Mafinga Mountains (24247)
Zambia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Mafinga Mountains
Central coordinates: Latitude: -10.0000, Longitude: 33.2930
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1200 to 2200
Area of KBA (km2): 226.95245
Protected area coverage (%): 31.75
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The most northerly block of mountains within Zambia eastern highlands. as within the Nyika Plateu (IBA 38), the Mafingas stradle the international boundary with Malawi. as well as Mafinga National Forest (no 296) in the south of the area, the site encompasses all the land above about the 1500m contour which is largely uninhabitate and rarely visited. miombo covers most of the lower slopes and in several places it reaches unusually high altitudes of over 2000m. In some areas this woodland is dominated by Musuku trees Uapaca spp. Broken rocky terrain and scree cover large parts of the higher ground and there are small strecthes of montane grassland and protea scrub. along the streams are patches of riparian forest, often in precipitous gulies, but there is only one large patch 940 ha) of montane forest known as Mulangale. Most forest is bordered by bracken briar. The Mafingas are important catchment area and they contain the source of Luangwa.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) KBA identified in the process of compiling the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the East Afromontane Hotspot. Species taxonomy and threat category was based on IUCN Red List 2010-4. The site holds a significant population of the following plant species which, although not yet Red-List-assessed at the global level, are thought likely to be categorised as globally threatened once assessed (thus meeting the KBA Vulnerability criterion), based on existing regional or national Red List assessments (species also considered as site-endemic are tagged with Irr1 [KBA Irreplaceability 1 criterion]): Buchnera crassifolia, Buchnera nitida, Cyphia mafingensis, Dissotis lanata, Ocimum obovatum, Phyllanthus mafingensis (Irr1), Polystachya mafingensis, Protea kibarensis (Irr1), Protea mafingensis.
Additional biodiversity: Several taxa are known only from the Mafingas within Zambia. Thse include Yellow-throated Warbler and the race of Cabanis's Greenbul which is sometimes treated as a full species.Although they may be non-breeding wanderers, Silvery-cheeked Hornbills occur more regulary here than at any other Zambian site. typical forest birds include Rameron Pigeon, Cinnamon Dove, Bar-tailed Trogon, Moustached Green Tinkerbird, Eastern Mountain Greenbul, Yellow-streaked Bulbul, Olive Thrush, White-chested alethe, Chestnut-headed Apalis-(see checklist). Non-bird biodiversity: Not well known. Mammals include Chequared Elephant shrew, and Giant Mastiff Bat. Others with limited Zambian distributions include Smith's Red Rock Hare, Lesser Pouched Rat and Nyika Bush-rat. Butterflies include the possibly endemic lolaus stewartii, an isolated population of pPilodeudorix zelomima, and the very local Lolaus pamelae.
Delineation rationale: 2011-12-06 (BL Secretariat): site extent increased from 13,000 ha to 23,000 ha, based on revised GIS polygon (rounded to nearest 10%).
Habitats
Land use: water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 | |
| Forest | 90 | |
| Grassland | 5 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |