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• Text account
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The site was identified as important in 1998 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s)	Population estimate at site	IBA criteria met
Cape Francolin Pternistis capensis	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus	VU	resident	-	present	A1
Black Harrier Circus maurus	EN	resident	-	present	A1
Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus	NT	resident	-	present	A1
Cape Rockjumper Chaetops frenatus	NT	resident	1998	present	A1, A2, A3
Victorin's Warbler Cryptillas victorini	LC	resident	1998	present	A2, A3
Cape Bulbul Pycnonotus capensis	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Cape Sugarbird Promerops cafer	LC	resident	1998	present	A2, A3
Orange-breasted Sunbird Anthobaphes violacea	LC	resident	1998	present	A2, A3
Protea Canary Crithagra leucoptera	NT	resident	1998	present	A1, A2, A3
Cape Siskin Crithagra totta	LC	resident	1998	present	A1, A2, A3

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (1998).

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Habitat detail	Reference area (ha)	Actual area (ha)	Habitat quantity (% remaining)	Habitat quality (carrying capacity)	Result
Shrubland	Shrubland - Cape (fynbos)	0	0	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	annual & perennial non-timber crops - agro-industry farming	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Agricultural expansion and intensification	wood and pulp plantations (includes afforestation) - agro-industry plantations	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Biological resource use	gathering terrestrial plants - unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Biological resource use	hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Climate change and severe weather	habitat shifting and alteration	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Energy production and mining	renewable energy	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational 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	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	problematic native species/diseases - named species	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - large dams	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Natural system modifications	fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Pollution	agricultural & forestry effluents - herbicides and pesticides	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Pollution	garbage & solid waste	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Residential and commercial development	housing and urban areas	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Residential and commercial development	tourism and recreation areas	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
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

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation	Management planning	Other conservation action	Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	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 conservation status, please click here

Protected area (PA)	PA designation	PA area (ha)	Relationship of PA with IBA	Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Winterhoek Mountain Catchment Area	Mountain Catchment Area	51,325	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Voëlvlei Provincial Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	866	protected area contained by site	0
Villiersdorp Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	527	protected area contained by site	0
Steenbras Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	793,816	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Ruvami Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	917	protected area contained by site	0
Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	1,684	protected area overlaps with site	0
Lourens River Protected Natural Environment	Protected Environment	4,412	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve	UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve	108,288	protected area overlaps with site	103,629
Kogelberg	Provincial Nature Reserve	19,891	protected area contained by site	14,006
Klein Houwhoek Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	1,155	protected area contained by site	0
Hottentotsholland Nature Reserve	Forest Nature Reserve	26,050	protected area overlaps with site	0
Hottentots-Holland Mountain Catchment Area	Mountain Catchment Area	24,401	protected area overlaps with site	0
Hottentots-holland	Provincial Nature Reserve	27,077	protected area contained by site	24,569
Hawequas Mountain Catchment Area	Mountain Catchment Area	51,604	protected area overlaps with site	64,634
Elandsberg Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	3,169	protected area is adjacent to site	0
De Rust Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	1,713	protected area contained by site	0
Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve	UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve	322,028	protected area overlaps with site	0
Cape Floral Region Protected Areas	World Heritage Site (natural or mixed)	1,094,742	protected area overlaps with site	105,348
Brodie Link Provincial Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	92	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Assegaaibos Provincial Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	197	protected area is adjacent to site	0

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Forest	Montane forest - mixed	-
Shrubland	Shrubland - Cape (fynbos)	-

For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

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

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Boland Mountains. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/boland-mountains-iba-south-africa on 24/09/2023.