Ribáuè-Mphalwe (49167)
Mozambique, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1e, B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2020
National site name: Ribáuè-Mphalwe
Central coordinates: Latitude: -14.8836, Longitude: 38.2885
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1526 to 1702
Area of KBA (km2): 264.9551
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: The Ribàué-Mphalwe KBA is a Forest Reserve established for protecting water catchments and slopes (FAO, 2008). However, recent biological exploration including for example Conrandie et al. (2016), Tolley et al. (2017) among other unpublished work has revealed the high biodiversity importance of the Ribauè massif. Currently, there are at least 12 known plant species that triggers KBA status of which 11 are threatened with extinction under the IUCN Red List including two Critically Endangered (CR) species: Aloe rulkensii and Rytigynia sp.; five Endangered (EN) species: Aloe ribauensis, Dombeya leachii, Memecylon nubigenum, Streptocarpusmyoporoides and Plysphaeria ribauensi; four Vulnerable (VU) species: Cynanchum oresbium, Plectranthus cucullathus, Stomatostemma pendulina and Cissus aristochiifolia. Based on the current knowledge, all these species are endemic to Mozambique and present restricted distribution. With respect to restricted distribution, there are at least four fauna species including two reptiles (Nadzikambia ribaue – CR,Rhampholeon tilburyi – EN) and two Endangered amphibians (Nothophryne broadleyi and Nothophryne ribauensis). Because human population have been clearing the vegetation around Ribauè massif for subsistence agriculture, the forest has been severely fragmented (Tolley et al., 2017). With ongoing human encroachment, the future of fauna and flora endemic species is highly threatened. The Ribàué-Mpalue is among the highly diverse inselbergs of northern Mozambique such as Chiperone, Inago, Namuli, and Mabu. Recognising Ribàué-Mphalwe as a KBA would allow connectivity among these inselbergs which in turn, would ensure persistence of suitable habitat for several endemic plants and animals only known from these inselbergs. To illustrate this, for example, Tolley et al. (2017) found that the three Mountains including Chiperone, Inago and Ribaué holds a total of six endemic chameleon species (two species per Mountain) in genera Nadzikambia and Rhampholeon. Therefore, Ribàué-Mphalwe with a total of 18 trigger species and being a forest reserve established with the aim to protect water catchment qualifies as KBA.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. The Ribàué-Mphalwe are two adjacent inselbergs which forms the Ribàué massif with a narrow valley running in between (Conrandie et al., 2016). The proposed KBA cover an area about 264 km2 and is found in Ribàué District which is located at the western side of the Nampula Province in northern Mozambique. At the base of these Mountains lays the Ribàué town which has municipality status (Ministério da Administração Estatal 2014). The areas surrounding Ribàué-Mphalwe are mainly covered by miombo woodland but, with montane forest in the high up areas (at about 500 m altitude) including gallery forests running through the valley. The major water courses are East-West oriented providing a staircase disposition of the relief towards the Indian Ocean. These two peaks are formed by granitic rocks. The climate in this area is humid tropical (about 65% humidity) presenting two annual seasons including dry and cold season with very limited precipitation, and a rainy and hot season characterised by high precipitation reaching 1,500 mm per annum. This climate experiences strong influence from the medium and high plateau-dominated relief of the continuation of the Chire-Namuli formations (Ministério da Administração Estatal 2014). Because Ribàué-Mphalwe is situated in an intermediate region between the Lichinga plateaus and the coastal plain of Nampula Province, the area is usually cooler. The temperatures range from 20 ºC to 25ºC between December and February, which is the warmest period and 15 ºC to 20 ºC during the dry and cooler months (Ministério da Administração Estatal 2014).
Delineation rationale: In General, the proposed KBA follows the existing limits of the Mphalwe Forest Reserve, excluding only a portion in the northeast, where much human activity is known to occur. This forest reserve is bound in the east by the N13 road that connects Ribaue to Lalaua, and by the Mecuassi River in the west.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 36 | |
| Forest | 55 | |
| Savanna | 9 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Only in the future |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Only in the future |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Shifting agriculture | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Agro-industry plantations | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Only in the future | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing |