ZA103
Amatola - Katberg Mountain


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2015 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum EN non-breeding (2010–2014) max 200 birds A1
Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus VU resident (2010–2014) present A1
Denham's Bustard Neotis denhami NT resident (2010–2014) present A1
Knysna Turaco Tauraco corythaix LC resident (1998) present A2, A3
Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius EN resident (2010–2014) present A1
Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus NT resident (2010–2014) present A1
Black Harrier Circus maurus EN resident (1998) present A1
Forest Buzzard Buteo trizonatus NT resident (1998) present A1, A3
Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus NT resident (1998) present A1
Knysna Woodpecker Campethera notata NT resident (1998) present A1, A2
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, 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, 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 A3
Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi NT resident (1998) present A3
Swee Waxbill Coccopygia melanotis LC resident (1998) present A3
Forest Canary Crithagra scotops LC resident (1998) present A2, A3

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2015. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2014 very poor very high low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat medium

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Quantity (% remaining) Quality (% carrying capacity) Result
Wetlands (inland) poor (40–69%) poor (40–69%) very poor
Grassland poor (40–69%) poor (40–69%) very poor
Shrubland moderate (70–90%) moderate (70–90%) poor
Forest moderate (70–90%) moderate (70–90%) poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Biological resource use happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Climate change and severe weather likely in short term (<4 years) whole of popul­ation/area (>90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Pollution happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low
Energy production and mining happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) low
Natural system modifications happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low
Residential and commercial development happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low
Transportation and service corridors happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Some of area covered (10–49%) No management planning has taken place Some limited conservation initiatives are in place low

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Forest - Montane forest - mixed; Woodland - mixed
Grassland - Grassland - montane
Shrubland - Bushland & thicket - evergreen
Wetlands (inland) - Montane bogs, swamps and mires


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Amatola - Katberg Mountain (South Africa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/amatola--katberg-mountain-iba-south-africa on 23/12/2024.