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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
Knysna Turaco Tauraco corythaix	LC	resident	1998	present	A2, A3
Forest Buzzard Buteo trizonatus	NT	resident	1998	present	A3
Black Harrier Circus maurus	EN	resident	-	present	A1
Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus	NT	resident	-	present	A1
Knysna Woodpecker Campethera notata	NT	resident	1998	present	A1, A2
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	-	present	A1
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, 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
Buff-streaked Chat Campicoloides bifasciatus	LC	resident	1998	present	A1, 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 - small-holder farming	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%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification	wood and pulp plantations (includes afforestation) - agro-industry plantations	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Biological resource use	gathering terrestrial plants - unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Biological resource use	hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - unintentional effects (species is not the target)	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Climate change and severe weather	drought	likely in short term (within 4 years)	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Climate change and severe weather	storms and floods	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Climate change and severe weather	temperature extremes	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Energy production and mining	mining and quarrying	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational activities	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
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	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - small dams	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	whole area/population (>90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Pollution	agricultural & forestry effluents - soil erosion, sedimentation	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant 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	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant 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 - mixed	0	0	poor (40-69%)	moderate (70-90%)	very unfavourable
Grassland	Grassland - montane	0	0	poor (40-69%)	poor (40-69%)	very unfavourable
Shrubland		0	0	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable

Conservation actions taken at site (response)
Conservation Designation	Management Planning	Conservation Action	Result
Some of site covered (10-49%)	No management plan exists but the management planning process has begun	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	low

For more information about IBA monitoring please click here

Protected Area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Mpofu	Nature Reserve	7,500	protected area contained by site	7,500

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

Name	Year formed
Cape Parrot working group	1997

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

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

For further information about the habitat classification please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
forestry	-
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: Katberg - Readsdale forest complex. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 27/03/2023.