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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
Corncrake Crex crex	LC	winter	-	present	A1
Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus	VU	resident	-	present	A1
Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus	VU	resident	-	present	A1
Black Stork Ciconia nigra	LC	breeding	-	10-15 breeding pairs	A4i
Black Stork Ciconia nigra	LC	non-breeding	-	35-70 individuals	A4i
Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus	VU	resident	1998	60-100 breeding pairs	A1, A3, A4i
Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus	VU	non-breeding	-	200-400 individuals	A4i
Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres	EN	resident	-	200-230 breeding pairs	A1, A4ii
Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres	EN	non-breeding	-	1,000-1,325 individuals	A4ii
Black Harrier Circus maurus	EN	resident	-	present	A1
Forest Buzzard Buteo trizonatus	NT	resident	1998	present	A3
Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus	NT	resident	-	present	A1
Grey Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris caesius	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Olive Bush-shrike Chlorophoneus olivaceus	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Drakensberg Rockjumper Chaetops aurantius	NT	resident	1998	present	A1, A2, A3
Barratt's Warbler Bradypterus barratti	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Bush Blackcap Sylvia nigricapillus	VU	resident	1998	present	A1, A3
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Chorister Robin-chat Cossypha dichroa	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Buff-streaked Chat Campicoloides bifasciatus	LC	resident	1998	present	A1, A3
Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi	NT	resident	1998	present	A3
Swee Waxbill Coccopygia melanotis	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Mountain Pipit Anthus hoeschi	NT	resident	1998	present	A1, A2
Yellow-breasted Pipit Hemimacronyx chloris	VU	resident	1998	present	A1, A3
Forest Canary Crithagra scotops	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Drakensberg Siskin Crithagra symonsi	LC	resident	1998	present	A1, 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	livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - nomadic grazing	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Biological resource use	gathering terrestrial plants - unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Biological resource use	hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Energy production and mining	renewable energy	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational activities	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	work and other activities	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - named species	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - abstraction of surface water (unknown use)	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Natural system modifications	fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Residential and commercial development	housing and urban areas	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Residential and commercial development	tourism and recreation areas	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Transportation and service corridors	utility & service lines	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low

Condition of habitat (state)
Habitat	Habitat Detail	Reference Area (ha)	Actual Area (ha)	% of habitat remaining	% of carrying capacity (overall)	Result
Forest	Montane forest - undifferentiated	0	0	moderate (70-90%)	good (> 90%)	near favourable
Grassland	Grassland - montane	0	0	good (> 90%)	good (> 90%)	near favourable
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	Inselbergs, kopjes & inland cliffs	0	0	good (> 90%)	good (> 90%)	near favourable
Shrubland	Scrub - woodland	0	0	good (> 90%)	good (> 90%)	near favourable
Wetlands (inland)	Montane bogs, swamps and mires	0	0	good (> 90%)	good (> 90%)	near favourable

Conservation actions taken at site (response)
Conservation Designation	Management Planning	Conservation Action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented	high

For more information about IBA monitoring please click here

Protection status:

Protected Area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Vergelegen Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	1,159	protected area overlaps with site	0
Upper Mkhomazi Wilderness Area	Forest Wilderness Area	49,022	protected area contained by site	0
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	224,884	protected area contained by site	242,813
Rugged Glen Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	767	protected area overlaps with site	0
Nelsberg Reserve	Forest Nature Reserve	537	protected area contained by site	0
Natal National Park	Nature Reserve	6,146	protected area overlaps with site	0
Natal Drakensberg	National Park	7,624	protected area contains site	242,813
Mzimkulu Wilderness Area	Forest Wilderness Area	28,475	protected area contained by site	0
Mlambonja Wilderness Area	Forest Wilderness Area	6,729	protected area overlaps with site	0
Mkhomazi Wilderness Area	Forest Wilderness Area	7,404	protected area contained by site	0
Mdedelelo Wilderness Area	Forest Wilderness Area	25,915	protected area overlaps with site	0
Maloti-Drakensberg Park	World Heritage Site (natural or mixed)	249,313	protected area overlaps with site	242,813
Mafifiyela Nature Reserve	Forest Nature Reserve	1,653	protected area contained by site	0
Loteni Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	3,938	protected area contained by site	0
Kwa-Mehlenyati Nature Reserve	Forest Nature Reserve	8,148	protected area contained by site	0
Kamberg Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	2,271	protected area contained by site	0
Impofana Nature Reserve	Forest Nature Reserve	7,214	protected area contained by site	0
Hlathikulu Nature Reserve	Forest Nature Reserve	2,530	protected area overlaps with site	0
Giant's Castle Game Reserve	Nature Reserve	37,163	protected area contained by site	0

IUCN Habitat	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Shrubland	Scrub - woodland	-
Grassland	Grassland - montane, Grassland - secondary	-
Forest	Montane forest - undifferentiated	-
Wetlands (inland)	Montane bogs, swamps and mires	-
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	Inselbergs, kopjes & inland cliffs	-

For further information about the habitat classification please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
agriculture	-
nature conservation and research	-

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

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2021) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Maloti Drakensberg Park. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 04/03/2021.