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 |
| 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 | A1, 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 |
| Forest | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | poor |
| Shrubland | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | poor |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% 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%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Energy production and mining | 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 |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% 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 | likely in long term (>4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Outeniqua Mountain Catchment Area | State Forest (-) | - |
| 2004 | Cape Floral Region Protected Areas | World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) (UA) | 49 |
| 2015 | Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve | UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA) | 22 |
The Local Conservation Group(s) listed below are working to conserve this IBA.
| Name | Year formed |
|---|---|
| WESSA | 0 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | - | Montane forest - mixed |
| Shrubland | - | Shrubland - Cape (fynbos) |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| water management | 88 |
| nature conservation and research | 38 |
| forestry | 10 |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Outeniqua mountains (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/outeniqua-mountains-iba-south-africa on 23/12/2024.