Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1998 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | NT | resident (1998) | 60–100 breeding pairs | A1, A3, A4i |
| Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus | NT | non-breeding (-) | 200–400 individuals | A1, A4i |
| Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres | VU | resident (-) | 200–230 breeding pairs | A1, A4ii |
| Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres | VU | non-breeding (-) | 1,000–1,325 individuals | A1, 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 Bushshrike 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, A3 |
| 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 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1998. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2014 | near favourable | high | high |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | medium | |
| State (condition of the key species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Forest | moderate (70–90%) | good (>90%) | near favourable |
| Grassland | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
| Shrubland | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
| Wetlands (inland) | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | whole population/area (>90%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Biological resource use | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Transportation and service corridors | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Energy production and mining | likely in short term (within 4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | 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 |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | Natal Drakensberg | National Park (II) | 100 |
| 2013 | Nelsberg Reserve | Forest Nature Reserve (-) | - |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | - | Montane forest - undifferentiated |
| Grassland | - | Grassland - montane; Grassland - secondary |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | - | Inselbergs, kopjes & inland cliffs |
| Shrubland | - | Scrub - woodland |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Montane bogs, swamps and mires |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 3 |
| agriculture | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Maloti Drakensberg Park (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/maloti-drakensberg-park-iba-south-africa on 24/01/2025.