Waterberg (100977)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d, B1, B2, B3a, B4, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Waterberg
Central coordinates: Latitude: -24.1279, Longitude: 28.0240
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 839 to 1940
Area of KBA (km2): 10086.28532
Protected area coverage (%): 24.18
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Waterberg is a very large terrestrial site with substantial protection and has OECM coverage, found in Limpopo, South Africa. Mainly rugged mountains with vegetation grading from Waterberg-Magaliesberg Summit Sourveld down to Faurea saligna Protea caffra bushveld on upper slopes through broad-leaved deciduous bushveld (dominated by Diplorhynchus condylocarpon) on rocky mid- and footslopes to Burkea africana Terminalia sericea savanna in the lower-lying valleys as well as on deeper sands of the plateaus. On the plains there is also low, broad-leaved Combretum woodland on shallow rocky or gravelly soils. Species of Acacia, Ziziphus and Euclea are found on flats and lower slopes on eutrophic sands and some less sandy soils. A. tortilis may dominate some areas along valleys. Grass-dominated herbaceous layer with relatively low basal cover on dystrophic sands.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for 4 criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Based on current available information, 19 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site include birds, butterflies, fish, mammals, plants, and reptiles. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 10 threatened species. Effectively the entire global population of one Endangered species is within the site. The site regularly holds 14 individual geographically restricted species, therefore meeting criterion B1. An assemblage of co-occurring range-restricted species in the Reptilia taxonomic group regularly present within the site meets criterion B2. Co-occurring species endemic to the Central bushveld terrestrial ecoregion present at the site meet criterion B3. An aggregation of at least 1% of the global population of one species is regularly present at the site, therefore it meets criterion D1. A quantitative analysis of irreplaceability indicates that the site is 100% irreplaceable for the global persistence of 5 species, therefore meeting criterion E. The site holds significant proportions of the global extent of 2 geographically restricted ecosystems (meeting criterion B4).
Additional biodiversity: 24 other potential trigger species meet minimum population parameter thresholds for the site, but presence and/or minimum reproductive units required to meet KBA criteria cannot be confirmed with available data.
Manageability of the site: This site is managed primarily by a Biosphere Reserve management authority, with parts of the site managed by a protected area management authority, and regional conservation authority responsible for enforcing statutory regulations on landuse change in Critical Biodiversity Areas and threatened ecosystems.
Supersedes another site: Waterberg System ZA006 [85%]
Delineation rationale: Distinctive mountain and plains bushveld landscape designated as Biosphere Reserve, including numerous protected areas, and adjacent intact habitat categorised as Critical Biodiversity Area.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Savanna (87%), Artificial - terrestrial (9%)
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Gavin Masterson (Fathom Data), Warrick Stewart (Resilience Environmental Advice), Anisha Dayaram (South African National Biodiversity Institute), Maphale Monyeki (South African National Biodiversity Institute), Sediqa Khatieb (South African National Biodiversity Institute), Craig Hilton-Taylor (IUCN)