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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 pairs | A4i |
| Black Stork Ciconia nigra | LC | non-breeding (-) | 35–70 birds | A4i |
| Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus | NT | resident (1998) | 60–100 pairs | A1, A3, A4i |
| Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus | NT | non-breeding (-) | 200–400 birds | A1, A4i |
| Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres | VU | resident (-) | 200–230 pairs | A1, A4ii |
| Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres | VU | non-breeding (-) | 1,000–1,325 birds | 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 assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2014 | moderate | high | high |
| 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%) | good (>90%) | moderate |
| Grassland | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | good |
| Shrubland | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | good |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | good |
| Wetlands (inland) | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | good |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Biological resource use | 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 |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Energy production and mining | likely in short term (<4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area (>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 (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Maloti Drakensberg Park (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/maloti-drakensberg-park-iba-south-africa on 22/12/2024.