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Year of most recent IBA criteria assessment: 2015

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s) of estimate	Population estimate	IBA Criteria Triggered

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	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - agro-industry grazing, ranching or farmin	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - nomadic grazing	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Biological resource use	hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	very high
Climate change and severe weather	habitat shifting and alteration	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	whole area/population (>90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Energy production and mining	mining and quarrying	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Energy production and mining	oil and gas drilling	likely in short term (within 4 years)	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	high
Energy production and mining	renewable energy	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	work and other activities	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	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
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	problematic native species/diseases - named species	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - small dams	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Natural system modifications	fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Pollution	agricultural & forestry effluents - nutrient loads	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Pollution	domestic & urban waste water - type unknown/unrecorded	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Pollution	excess energy - light pollution	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	medium
Pollution	excess energy - noise pollution	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Residential and commercial development	housing and urban areas	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high

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 - edaphic, wet	0	0	moderate (70-90%)	poor (40-69%)	very unfavourable
Wetlands (inland)		0	0	poor (40-69%)	poor (40-69%)	very unfavourable

Condition of key/trigger populations (state)
Scientific	Common	TargetPop	ActualPop	Units	Remaining	Result
Bugeranus carunculatus	Wattled Crane	15	7	individuals	47	not assessed
Anthropoides paradiseus	Blue Crane	200	150	individuals	75	not assessed

Conservation actions taken at site (response)
Conservation Designation	Management Planning	Conservation Action	Result
Little/none of site covered (<10%)	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)
Zeekoevlei Local Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	421	unknown	0
Uithoek Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	865	protected area contained by site	0
Tafelkop Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	1,207	protected area contained by site	0
Sneeuwberg Protected Environment	Protected Environment	1,620,898	protected area contained by site	0
Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	374	protected area contained by site	4,416
Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	4,303	protected area contained by site	4,754
Rosedale Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	798	protected area overlaps with site	0
Potberg Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	1,218	protected area contained by site	0
Pongola Bush Protected Environment	Protected Environment	9,235	protected area contained by site	0
Pongola Bush Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	882	protected area contained by site	0
Paardeplaats Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	2,426	protected area contained by site	0
Ncandu Private Forest and Grassland Reserve	Nature Reserve	1,390	protected area contained by site	0
Ncandu Nature Reserve	Forest Nature Reserve	1,860	protected area contained by site	0
Majuba Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	1,917	protected area overlaps with site	0
Mabola Protected Environment	Protected Environment	8,018	protected area contained by site	0
Lotterkrantz Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	1,114	protected area contained by site	0
KwaMandlangampisi Protected Environment	Protected Environment	28,485	protected area contained by site	0
Emlwane Game Park Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	386,702	protected area overlaps with site	0
Balele/Enlanzeni Valley Game Park	Nature Reserve	9,419	protected area overlaps with site	0

The local conservation groups below are working to support conservation at this IBA.

Name	Year formed
Wakkerstrrom Site Support Group	2007

For more information on BirdLife's work with Local conservation groups please click here.

IUCN Habitat	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Grassland	Grassland - edaphic, wet	-
Wetlands (inland)	Rivers & streams, Ephemeral pools and wetlands	-
Forest	Montane forest - mixed	-

For further information about the habitat classification please click here.

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

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

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Grasslands. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 31/03/2023.