Wolkberg - Bewaarkloof (100989)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1e, A2, B1, B2, B3a, B4, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Wolkberg - Bewaarkloof
Central coordinates: Latitude: -24.0545, Longitude: 29.9502
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 822 to 1928
Area of KBA (km2): 1772.67149
Protected area coverage (%): 26.11
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Wolkberg - Bewaarkloof is a large terrestrial site with substantial protection and OECM coverage, found in Limpopo, South Africa. Mountainous plateau covered by various grassland units on granite, dolomite and quartzite, with mountain bushveld at lower elevations and large mistbelt forest patches. The broad mountain ridges, elevated plateaus and adjacent slopes are covered with species-rich short, closed grasslands rich in forbs, often dominated by Loudetia simplex and Diheteropogon amplectens. Includes open to dense woody layer, with associated woody and herbaceous shrubs and closed to open grass layer. On weather-resistant quartzite the nutrient-poor soils lead to a lower biomass which, together with the rocky landscape, results in a reduced frequency and intensity of fires. It therefore has slightly more woody elements than the adjacent units. Includes patches of tall, evergreen afrotemperate mistbelt forests occurring primarily in east-facing fire refugia such as subridge scarps and moist sheltered kloofs where they form small, fragmented patches. The most common canopy trees include Xymalos monospora, Podocarpus latifolius, Combretum kraussii, Cryptocarya transvaalensis Schefflera umbellifera, Syzygium gerrardii, Olea capensis subsp. macrocarpa, Psydrax obovata subsp. elliptica, Pterocelastrus galpinii.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for 3 criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Based on current available information, 38 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site include amphibians, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, fish, mammals, plants, and reptiles. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 23 threatened species. Effectively the entire global populations of 3 Endangered and 1 Critically Endangered species are within the site. The site regularly holds 32 individual geographically restricted species, therefore meeting criterion B1. Assemblages of co-occurring range-restricted species in the Asparagales, Reptilia, and Santalales taxonomic groups regularly present within the site meet criterion B2. Co-occurring species endemic to the Highveld grasslands terrestrial ecoregion present at the site meet criterion B3. A quantitative analysis of irreplaceability indicates that the site is 100% irreplaceable for the global persistence of 19 species, therefore meeting criterion E. The site holds significant proportions of the global extent of 1 threatened ecosystem (meeting criterion A2) and 5 geographically restricted ecosystems (meeting criterion B4).
Additional biodiversity: 47 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 protected area management authority, with parts of the site managed by a regional conservation authority responsible for enforcing statutory regulations on landuse change in Critical Biodiversity Areas and threatened ecosystems, and catchment management agency.
Supersedes another site: Wolkberg Forest Belt ZA004 [93%]
Delineation rationale: Large protected areas and connecting forest, grassland, and bushveld vegetation, all categorised as Critical Biodiversity Area and Strategic Water Source Area. Minor adjustments to existing Important Bird and Biodiversity Area.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Grassland (38%), Savanna (35%), Artificial - terrestrial (19%), Forest (7%)
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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)