Driefontein grasslands (7224)
Zimbabwe, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Driefontein grasslands

Central coordinates: Latitude: -19.3833, Longitude: 30.7833

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 1500 to 1500

Area of KBA (km²): 1898.84714

Protected area coverage (%): 97.01

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The site is an isolated patch of Kalahari Sands on the watershed, a little to the east of the geographical centre of Zimbabwe. Within it lies the Driefontein Mission with the two Driefontein dams, and close by to the east is the commercial farming community of Felixburg. The vistas are flat and seemingly endless. Most of the landscape is under natural highveld grassland, dominated by the thatching grass Hyparrhenia which can grow to a height of 3 m. Soaks, seeps, and depressions collect water and form many dambos/vleis in the area, due to the flat terrain. There are a few streams, such as the Nyororo and Shashe, and scattered patches of miombo woodland. Due to the general sufficiency of rainfall, there are areas of rain-fed maize agriculture in summer and irrigated wheat in the austral winter. Temperatures are very equable, and frosts in winter are common. The area is largely divided into commercial ranches which specialize in cattle. There are several mines around Felixburg itself, and Driefontein Mission has a church, a hospital and school, and agricultural crops.

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)

Additional biodiversity: See Box for key species. The area supports a large number of Grus carunculatus. In October 1989, a roost of 87 birds was present at one of the Driefontein dams, the largest flock seen in the country in recent decades. More recent winter surveys of the District have located 25 pairs and a flock of ‘floaters’ (1996), after a good 1995/96 rainy season. Up to 40 pairs have been located in the larger area of the central watershed, Chivhu–Mvuma–Felixburg, which includes this site. Generally the cranes form pairs when the conditions are marshy, and flock together during times of drought. They may then glean in old maize and wheat lands. The grassland and cattle-ranching environment is benign for raptors, and more than 30 species (excluding owls) have been recorded, including occasional sightings of Gyps coprotheres, Circus macrourus and Falco naumanni. Due to the extent of dambos, culminating in the large Widgeon Pan on the eastern edge of the area (19°23’S 30°56’E), there is a good likelihood of Crex crex and Gallinago media (and even, perhaps, Sarothrura ayresi). Chlidonias hybridus was recorded breeding there in 1993. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | water management

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Shrubland	58
Artificial - Terrestrial	14
Wetlands(Inland)	5
Forest	11
Grassland	10

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Almost the whole area is privately owned, except for some resettlement of peasants north of the dam. However, most if not all commercial farmers/ranchers are sympathetic to wildlife and would consider themselves conservationists. A check is kept on poaching and snaring. Fortunately birds are of little interest to the local population. G. carunculatus would only suffer from drought, any residual pesticides on cereals, and also possibly from disturbance by small boys. For the last, a poster has been printed for display at schools in the area (and nationwide). In November 1997, the government designated some of the commercial ranches for compulsory acquisition, and so the immediate future is now uncertain. In 2000, many properties suffered land invasions.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Small-holder farming	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Increase in fire frequency/intensity	Ongoing
Pollution	Agricultural & forestry effluents	Soil erosion, sedimentation	Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Work & other activities		Ongoing
Climate change & severe weather	Habitat shifting & alteration		Ongoing
Climate change & severe weather	Droughts		Only in the future
Climate change & severe weather	Temperature extremes		Only in the future

Additional information