Data Zone
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Flufftail Sarothrura affinis | LC | resident (2010–2014) | present | A3 |
| Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum | EN | resident (2010–2014) | 8 pairs | A1 |
| Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum | EN | non-breeding (2010–2014) | 60–80 birds | A1 |
| Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus | VU | resident (2010–2014) | 9 pairs | A1 |
| Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus | VU | resident (2010–2014) | 6 pairs | A1 |
| Knysna Turaco Tauraco corythaix | LC | resident (2010–2014) | present | A2, A3 |
| Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus | NT | resident (2010–2014) | present | A1 |
| Forest Buzzard Buteo trizonatus | NT | resident (2010–2014) | present | A3 |
| Grey Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris caesius | LC | resident (2010–2014) | present | A3 |
| Olive Bushshrike Chlorophoneus olivaceus | LC | resident (2010–2014) | present | A3 |
| Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla | LC | resident (2010–2014) | present | A3 |
| Bush Blackcap Sylvia nigricapillus | VU | resident (2010–2014) | present | A1, A2, A3 |
| Orange Ground-thrush Geokichla gurneyi | LC | resident (2010–2014) | min 10 pairs | A3 |
| White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata | LC | resident (1998) | present | A3 |
| Chorister Robin-chat Cossypha dichroa | LC | resident (2010–2014) | present | A2, A3 |
| Buff-streaked Chat Campicoloides bifasciatus | LC | resident (2010–2014) | present | A3 |
| Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi | NT | resident (1998) | present | A3 |
| Swee Waxbill Coccopygia melanotis | LC | resident (2010–2014) | present | A3 |
| Forest Canary Crithagra scotops | LC | resident (2010–2014) | present | A2, A3 |
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 | 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 |
| Forest | moderate (70–90%) | poor (40–69%) | very poor |
| Grassland | very poor (<40%) | very poor (<40%) | very poor |
| Wetlands (inland) | poor (40–69%) | poor (40–69%) | very poor |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Transportation and service corridors | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no or slight decline (<1% 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 |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Blinkwater | Provincial Nature Reserve (IV) | - |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | - | Montane forest - mixed |
| Grassland | - | Grassland - montane |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Montane bogs, swamps and mires |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Karkloof (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/karkloof-iba-south-africa on 23/12/2024.