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Year of most recent IBA criteria assessment: 1998

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s) of estimate	Population estimate	IBA Criteria Triggered
Striped Flufftail Sarothrura affinis	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Knysna Turaco Tauraco corythaix	LC	resident	1998	present	A2, A3
Forest Buzzard Buteo trizonatus	NT	resident	1998	present	A3
Grey Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris caesius	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Barratt's Warbler Bradypterus barratti	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea	VU	breeding	1998	unknown	A3
Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Bush Blackcap Sylvia nigricapillus	VU	resident	1998	present	A1, A2, A3
Orange Ground-thrush Geokichla gurneyi	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Brown Scrub-robin Tychaedon signata	LC	resident	1998	present	A2
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Chorister Robin-chat Cossypha dichroa	LC	resident	1998	present	A2, A3
Swee Waxbill Coccopygia melanotis	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Forest Canary Crithagra scotops	LC	resident	1998	present	A2, A3

Note: This table presents the IBA criteria triggered and the species that triggered then at the time of assessment, the current IUCN Red List category may vary from that which was in place at that time.

For more information about the IBA assessment process and criteria please click here

Threats to the site (pressure)
Threat Level 1	Threat Level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	annual & perennial non-timber crops - agro-industry farming	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification	annual & perennial non-timber crops - small-holder farming	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification	wood and pulp plantations (includes afforestation) - agro-industry plantations	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Biological resource use	gathering terrestrial plants - unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Biological resource use	hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - motivation unknown/unrecorded	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Energy production and mining	mining and quarrying	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational activities	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - named species	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Natural system modifications	fire & fire suppression - suppression in fire frequency/intensity	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Pollution	excess energy - thermal pollution	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Pollution	garbage & solid waste	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Residential and commercial development	housing and urban areas	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Transportation and service corridors	roads and railroads	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Transportation and service corridors	utility & service lines	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium

Condition of habitat (state)
Habitat	Habitat Detail	Reference Area (ha)	Actual Area (ha)	% of habitat remaining	% of carrying capacity (overall)	Result
Forest	Montane forest - mixed	0	0	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable
Grassland	Grassland - highveld	0	0	poor (40-69%)	poor (40-69%)	very unfavourable
Savanna	Bushland & thicket - montane	0	0	poor (40-69%)	poor (40-69%)	very unfavourable

Conservation actions taken at site (response)
Conservation Designation	Management Planning	Conservation Action	Result
Some of site covered (10-49%)	A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	low

For more information about IBA monitoring please click here

Protected Area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Wolkberg Wilderness Area	Forest Wilderness Area	19,297	protected area contained by site	0
River Park Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	342	protected area contained by site	0
Potlake Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	2,807	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Nature Reserve: Co-operation and Development	Nature Reserve	18,680	protected area overlaps with site	18,892
Narina Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	66	protected area contained by site	0
Kruger to Canyons	UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve	2,874,810	protected area overlaps with site	0
Haenerstsburg Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	15,412	protected area contained by site	0
Grootbosch Nature Reserve	Forest Nature Reserve	4,548	protected area contained by site	0

IUCN Habitat	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Forest	Montane forest - mixed	-
Grassland	Grassland - highveld	-
Artificial/Terrestrial	Forestry & agro-industrial plantations	-
Savanna	Bushland & thicket - montane	-

For further information about the habitat classification please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
forestry	-
water management	-
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-

For further information about the land use classification please click here.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Wolkberg Forest Belt. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/03/2023.