Chimanimani National Park (6690)
Mozambique, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1e, B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2020
National site name: Parque Nacional De Chimanimani
Central coordinates: Latitude: -19.7499, Longitude: 33.1099
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 500 to 2436
Area of KBA (km2): 2370.627021
Protected area coverage (%): 99.84
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The proposed KBA encompasses all the Chimanimani National Park-CNP (formerly known as Chimanimani National Reserve-CNR) including its buffer zone and cover an area about 2370 km2. This site includes the well-known Chimanimani mountains that lie on the border between Mozambique and Zimbabwe, with most of the range (perhaps three-quarters) lying within Mozambique (Timberlake et al., 2016, Timberlake, 2017). The highland area covers about 530 km2 and ranges in altitude from around 500 m in the south to the highest peak of Mt Binga at 2436 m, which is the highest point of Mozambique (Timberlake et al., 2016, da Costa and Tovela, 2018). Most of the main plateau lies at around 1000 to 1800 m. The mountains are protected on both sides of the border, and together form part of a Trans- Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) (Timberlake et al., 2016, Timberlake, 2017). The Mozambique portion of the mountains lies in Sussundenga District of Manica Province, with the District Administration at the small town of Sussundenga approximately 40 km to the north- east. The mountains typically comprise quartzite or white sandstone crags, interspersed with grasslands, forming a plateau that slopes eastwards into Mozambique (Timberlake et al., 2016). According to da Costa and Tovela (2018). The climate in CNP ranges from humid tropical to temperate, with mean annual temperature of 22°C in the lowlands to below 18°C in high mountains. Furthermore, frost can occur in high mountains and plateau over 1500 m. Rainy season usually starts late November until late March, but sporadic rains occur throughout the year in high mountains and foothills. Rainfalls are around 1500-2000 mm per year. The climate is warm and humid with rainfall highly variable, where drought is the norm and severe floods occurring occasionally. In terms of hydrology, the CNP area is lying in the Búzi River basin and is ranging between Mussapa Pequena River and Lucite River, limits north and south, respectively. The eastern border is the Mussapa River flowing southwards until its confluence with the Lucite River. The southern and central mountains are drained by the Lucite and Mussapa rivers, the northern mountains are flowing northward into the Revue River, tributary of Búzi River (da Costa and Tovela, 2018) The main vegetation types recorded on Chimanimani mountains are: Forest (Dry montane forest and Marginal forest); Woodlands (miombo); Scrub (Ericaceous scrub and Predaceous scrub); Grassland; Aquatic communities and Lithophytic communities (Tmberlake et al., 2016)
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. This site is known for exceptional levels of plant endemism (more than 75 endemic species) and have already been recognised as an important area for plant biodiversity for at least 50 years (Timberlake et al., 2016). In addition, the mountains have been recognised as one of the main Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in the Eastern Afromontane Hotspot (CEPF, 2012), and as an Important Bird Area (IBAs) (Parker, 2001), all these designations serve to highlight the mountain’s importance for biodiversity not only for Mozambique but globally. During this assessment based on current information, 41 species across plants, Butterflies, Amphibians, Reptiles and Mammals taxonomic groups have met the KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site includes 34 plants species, 33 of which are threatened with extinction namely: Pterocephalus centennii (CR), Danthoniopsis chimanimaniensis (EN), Empogona jenniferae (EN), Ficus muelleriana (EN), Morella chimanimaniana (EN), Neobolusia ciliata (EN), Olinia chimanimani (EN), Rhynchosia chimanimaniensis (EN), Synsepalum sp. nov. (EN), Aspidoglossum glabellum (EN), Dierama inyangense (EN), Aeschynomene aphylla (VU), Aloe plowesii (VU), Buchnera subglabra (VU), Centella obtriangularis (VU), Crotalaria insignis (VU), Dissotis pulchra (VU), Dissotis swynnertonii (VU), Erica lanceolifera (VU), Gutenbergia westii (VU), Otiophora lanceolata (VU), Protea enervis (VU), Schistostephium oxylobum (VU), Schizochilus Lepidus (VU), Sericanthe chimanimaniensis (VU), Streptocarpus hirticapsa (VU), Syncolostemon oritrephes (VU), Vepris drummondii (VU), Xyris asterotricha (VU), Disa zimbabweensis (VU), Gladiolus zimbabweensis (VU) Impatiens psychadelphoides (VU), Polygala zambesiaca (VU), and one is Least Concern: Streptocarpus umtaliensis (LC). Includes two restricted distribution butterfly species: Pseudonympha cyclops and Graphium junodi recently assessed under the IUCN red list; Two Amphibian species, of which one is threatened: Strongylopus rhodesianus (VU) and Hyperolius swynnertoni (LC); Two reptiles species of which one is threatened: Rhampholeon marshalli (VU), Smaug mossambicus (LC) and finally, one threatened Mammals, the Arend"s Golden Mole Carpitalpa arendsi (VU). Additionally, this site holds many other threatened species, particularly birds, such: Swynnertonia swynnertoni (VU) but, unfortunately no estimate number is available to this site, which limited the assessment. Others threatened bird species include Polemaetus bellicosus (VU), Bucorvus leadbeateri (VU) (Naskrecki, 2018) and Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea (VU), generally found in montane grassland (Little, 2013). It is also possible to find African elephants: Loxodonta Africana (VU) and several species that have been tentatively identified as new to science, such a leaf katydid Gonatoxia sp. n. and butterfly Gonophodes sp. n. (Naskrecki, 2018). In terms of ichthyofaunal, this site holds endemic species such Chetia brevicaudata, Amphilius laticaudatus and Chrysichthys hildae (da Costa and Tovela, 2018). Including several additional species which present wider distributional ranges but still endemic to Búzi and Pungwe rivers, such Parakneria mossambica, Enteromius manicensis, and Labeobarbus pungweensis (da Costa and Tovela, 2018). Moreover, there are also areas with cave paintings, filled with ancestral beliefs and traditions, that adds to this site a high cultural interest (da Costa and Tovela, 2018). Despite this site being already protected, it faces various ecological threats of which the biggest is gold mining activities (Shah et al. 2018), which destroys riparian systems that provide habitat for endemic species increasing the risk of invasive plants becoming established (CEPF, 2012). There is a risk of increase in the extent of significant environmental damage due to a significant influx of illegal small-scale gold miners (Timberlake et al., 2016). This assessment shows that this site is contributing significantly for global persistence of Biodiversity, therefore should be recognized as a Key Biodiversity Area.
Delineation rationale: The boundary has been delineated following the boundaries of the existing Protected Area (Chimanimani National Park)
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 92 | |
| Shrubland | 1 | |
| 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 |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | In the past but now suspended and likely to return |
| 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 | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Soil erosion, sedimentation | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Seepage from mining | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Unknown |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Only in the future |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Shifting agriculture | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Shifting agriculture | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Intentional use: large scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Shifting agriculture | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Agro-industry plantations | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Agro-industry plantations | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |