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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres | VU | resident (-) | 820–870 breeding pairs | A1, A4ii |
| Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres | VU | non-breeding (-) | 1,700–1,900 individuals | A1, A4ii |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1998. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2013 | favourable | high | medium |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| no | population | medium | |
| State (condition of the key species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres | 941 / 870 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorynchus | 30 / 30 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| State (condition of the key species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Grassland | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | unfavourable |
| Savanna | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | unfavourable |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Energy production and mining | likely in short term (within 4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Transportation and service corridors | likely in short term (within 4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | 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 | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | medium |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Vhembe Biosphere Reserve | UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA) | 100 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | - | Woodland - mixed |
| Grassland | - | |
| Savanna | - |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| forestry | 14 |
| nature conservation and research | 8 |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Blouberg (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/blouberg-iba-south-africa on 11/01/2025.