Nyika National Park (Zambia) (7198)
Zambia, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2011

National site name: Nyika National Park (Zambia)

Central coordinates: Latitude: -10.5960, Longitude: 33.5720

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 1300 to 2225

Area of KBA (km²): 269.49948

Protected area coverage (%): 83.01

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This park lies along the Malawi border in the far north-east of the country. It adjoins the much larger Malawi an park of the same name (site MW002) and is best approached from that side. Together with the Mafinga and Makutu mountains, it forms the eastern highlands, which constitute the only truly montane area in Zambia. The undulating terrain is dominated by montane grassland, but there are scattered patches of montane forest, usually in depressions or along streams. The largest of these are Chowo (90 ha) and Manyanjere (75 ha). Along the western side of the park runs a precipitous escarpment which, in places, supports miombo. At higher levels, this woodland becomes somewhat stunted.

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]): Biophytum nyikense, Brachythrix malawiensis (Irr1), Brachythrix pawekiae (Irr1), Brachythrix sonchioides, Buchnera crassifolia, Buchnera nitida, Crassula nyikensis (Irr1), Crotalaria pilosiflora (Irr1), Cynorkis anacamptoides (Irr1), Cyphia nyikensis (Irr1), Disperis bifida (Irr1), Disperis breviloba, Glossostelma nyikense (Irr1), Habenaria livingstoniana (Irr1), Habenaria petraea, Habenaria pubidens, Habenaria riparia (Irr1), Helichrysum hilliardiae, Helichrysum tithonioides (Irr1), Herschelianthe praecox (Irr1), Impatiens schulziana (Irr1), Indigofera hilaris (Irr1), Kotschya africana (Irr1), Monochema varians (Irr1), Ocimum obovatum, Osteospermum nyikensis (Irr1), Oxalis chapmaniae (Irr1), Peucedanum articulatum (Irr1), Phyllanthus nyikae (Irr1), Pimpinella nyassica (Irr1), Plectranthus acaulis, Plectranthus viphyensis, Polygala lactiflora (Irr1), Polygala nyikensis, Protea mafingensis, Setaria grandis (Irr1), Stolzia compacta (Irr1), Vernonia fractiflexa (Irr1), Vernonia kawoziensis (Irr1).

Additional biodiversity: See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Over 40 species are confined in Zambia to the eastern highlands, among them the globally threatened Hirundo atrocaerulea, which occurs as a breeding visitor and passage migrant, as well as eight species with globally restricted ranges (see Table 2). Within the eastern highlands, many of these 40+ species are restricted to Nyika alone, and most are characteristic of the Afrotropical Highlands biome. A number of other species not belonging to this biome assemblage are, nevertheless, restricted in Zambia to this small area, including Accipiter rufiventris, Cossypha caffra, Cisticola lais, Batis capensis, Nectarinia famosa and Serinus canicollis. Other characteristic birds of Nyika include Francolinus hildebrandti, F. levaillantii, Coturnix coturnix, Neotis denhami (occasional; breeds on the Malawian side), Columba arquatrix, C. larvata, Indicator meliphilus and Cisticola ayresii. Of the other species of global conservation concern, Circus macrourus is regular, Falco naumanni occurs in small numbers on passage, Grus carunculatus is an uncommon resident (breeding on the side), Crex crex is occasional, and Cisticola njombe is common. One species occurs that is restricted to the Zambezian biome, Monticola angolensis (see Table 3). The site is the only regular non-breeding area in Zambia for Sylvia atricapilla, and Ceratogymna brevis is an erratic visitor. Non-bird biodiversity: A wide variety of mammals are known, including Rhynchocyon cirnei (VU), Otomys typus (LR/nt), O. denti (LR/nt) and Rhabdomys pumilio (DD). There are many butterflies unknown elsewhere in the country, including Axiocerces nyika, Iolaus helenae, Lepidochrysops handmani, L. chalceus and L. nyika, all of which are (on present evidence) endemic to the Nyika. Other species known from nowhere else in Zambia include Neptis nina, Cymothoe cottrelli, Charaxes nyikensis, Uranothauma williamsi and indeed much of the flora and fauna is of very limited distribution elsewhere in Zambia.

Delineation rationale: 2013-07-10 (BL Secretariat): following CEPF East Afromontane ecosystem profiling process, the reported IBA area of 8000 ha has been changed to 27000 ha (as measured in GIS from latest boundary polygon, rounded to nearest 10%).

Habitats

Land use: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation | water management

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There is some illegal hunting of the larger mammals and it would appear that fire-breaks around the forest patches are not being maintained properly. Within Zambia, the total area of mature montane forest is c.200 ha, so the many species restricted to this habitat are very vulnerable on a national scale. However, this is fortunately not the case in neighbouring countries, in which montane forest is more widespread.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Increase in fire frequency/intensity	Ongoing

Additional information