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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus | VU | resident (-) | present | A1 |
| Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus | NT | resident (1998) | present | A1, A3 |
| Black Harrier Circus maurus | EN | resident (-) | present | A1 |
| Drakensberg Rockjumper Chaetops aurantius | NT | resident (1998) | present | A1, A2, A3 |
| Rudd's Lark Heteromirafra ruddi | EN | resident (1998) | present | A1, A3 |
| Buff-streaked Chat Campicoloides bifasciatus | LC | resident (1998) | present | A1, A3 |
| Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi | NT | 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 |
| Drakensberg Siskin Crithagra symonsi | LC | resident (1998) | present | 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 (2013) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2013 | moderate | high | medium |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | medium | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Rudd's Lark Heteromirafra ruddi | 20 / 20 (pairs) | 100 | good | ||
| State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Grassland | good (>90%) | moderate (70–90%) | moderate |
| Wetlands (inland) | good (>90%) | moderate (70–90%) | moderate |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | 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 | some of population/area (10–49%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Natural system modifications | likely in short term (<4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | 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 |
| 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 |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Energy production and mining | likely in long term (>4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| 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 | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | medium |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | - | |
| Wetlands (inland) | - |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100 |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Matatiele Nature Reserve (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/matatiele-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 22/12/2024.