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The site was identified as important 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 List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Cape Spurfowl Pternistis capensis	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus	VU	non-breeding	-	2,914-3,484 individuals	A1, A4i
Black Harrier Circus maurus	EN	resident	-	present	A1
Cape Long-billed Lark Certhilauda curvirostris	LC	resident	1998	present	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
Cape Siskin Crithagra totta	LC	resident	1998	present	A2, A3

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (1998) may differ.

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.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Reference	Actual	Units	% remaining	Result
Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus	6,000	6,000	individuals	100	favourable
Denham's Bustard Neotis denhami	195	195	individuals	100	favourable
Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres	210	210	individuals	100	favourable
Black Harrier Circus maurus	100	100	individuals	100	favourable

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Shrubland	very poor (< 40%)	poor (40-69%)	very unfavourable
Artificial/Terrestrial	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	very high
Residential and commercial development	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Energy production and mining	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Biological resource use	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Climate change and severe weather	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Transportation and service corridors	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Pollution	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Human intrusions and disturbance	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Little/none of site covered (<10%)	No management plan exists but the management planning process has begun	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1961	Bontebok National Park	National Park	<1
1967	Werner Frehse Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1969	Brian Mansergh Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1971	Vogelgat Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1972	Bosbokstrand Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1972	Heidelberg Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1975	De Hoop Vlei	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	<1
1975	De Mond Nature Reserve	Forest Nature Reserve	<1
1976	De Hoop Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1976	Maanschynkop Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1978	Rhenosterkop Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1978	Freshwater Sands Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1978	The Lagoon 2 Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1982	San Sebastian Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1985	Annet Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1987	Blombos Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1992	Duivenhoksriviermond Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1992	Ten Einde Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1992	Groot Dam Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1994	Hannes Zaaiman Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1994	Stilbaai Fynbos Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1995	Jongensgat Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1998	Hasekraal Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1999	Agulhas National Park	National Park	1
1999	Mosselbankfontein Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
2000	Skulpiesbaai Local Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
2003	Duin-'n-See Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
2003	Witsand Local Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
2004	Cape Floral Region Protected Areas	World Heritage Site (natural or mixed)	2
2008	Stilbaai Marine Protected Area	Marine Protected Area	<1
2015	Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve	UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve	31

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Artificial/Terrestrial	Arable land	major (>10)
Grassland		-
Shrubland	Shrubland - Cape (fynbos)	-

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	20
agriculture	-
tourism/recreation	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Overberg Wheatbelt (South Africa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/overberg-wheatbelt-iba-south-africa on 23/11/2024.