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 ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Spurfowl Pternistis capensis | LC | resident (1998) | present | A3 |
| Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus | VU | resident (-) | present | A1 |
| 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 |
| Cape Rockjumper Chaetops frenatus | NT | resident (1998) | present | A2, A3 |
| Victorin's Warbler Cryptillas victorini | LC | resident (1998) | present | A2, A3 |
| Cape Bulbul Pycnonotus capensis | LC | resident (1998) | present | A3 |
| Cape Sugarbird Promerops cafer | LC | resident (1998) | present | A2, A3 |
| Orange-breasted Sunbird Anthobaphes violacea | LC | resident (1998) | present | A2, A3 |
| Protea Canary Crithagra leucoptera | NT | resident (1998) | present | A1, A2, A3 |
| Cape Siskin Crithagra totta | 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 (2012) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2012 | poor | high | medium |
| 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 |
| Shrubland | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | poor |
| Grassland | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | poor |
| Forest | good (>90%) | moderate (70–90%) | moderate |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| 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 |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | 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 |
| Pollution | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Geological events | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Climate change and severe weather | 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 |
| Energy production and mining | 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 |
| Most of area (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Baviaanskloof Conservation Area | Provincial Nature Reserve (-) | 5 |
| - | Baviaanskloof | State Forest (IV) | 22 |
| 2004 | Cape Floral Region Protected Areas | World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) (UA) | 48 |
| 2015 | Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve | UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA) | 23 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | - | Montane forest - mixed |
| Grassland | - | |
| Shrubland | - | Shrubland - Cape (fynbos) |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100 |
| water management | 15 |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kouga - Baviaanskloof Complex (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kouga--baviaanskloof-complex-iba-south-africa on 23/12/2024.