• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

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
Striped Flufftail Sarothrura affinis	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
White-winged Flufftail Sarothrura ayresi	CR	non-breeding	1998	6-12 individuals	A1, A4i
Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus	VU	resident	-	4 breeding pairs	A1
Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus	VU	resident	-	present	A1
Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus	NT	resident	1998	30-40 breeding pairs	A1, A3, A4i
Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus	NT	non-breeding	-	100-350 individuals	A1, A4i
Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus	NT	resident	-	present	A1
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni	LC	winter	-	1,000-3,000 individuals	A1, A4ii
Rudd's Lark Heteromirafra ruddi	EN	resident	1998	present	A1, A2, A3
Buff-streaked Chat Campicoloides bifasciatus	LC	resident	1998	present	A1, A3
Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi	NT	resident	1998	present	A3
Yellow-breasted Pipit Hemimacronyx chloris	VU	resident	1998	present	A1, 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' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Grassland	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable
Wetlands (inland)	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Residential and commercial development	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Energy production and mining	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Transportation and service corridors	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Human intrusions and disturbance	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Pollution	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high

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%)	A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1955	Langkloof Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1956	Cecilia Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1965	Davel Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	1
1967	Kleinsuikerboskop Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	1
1969	Houtenbek Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	2
1969	Tobe Private Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1
1996	Verloren Vallei Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	3
2001	Verloren Valei Nature Reserve	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	3
2017	Greater Lakenvlei Protected Environment	Protected Environment	7

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Forest		100
Grassland	Grassland - highveld	-
Wetlands (inland)	Riverine floodplains	-

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
forestry	60
water management	10
nature conservation and research	4
agriculture	-

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Steenkampsberg (South Africa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/steenkampsberg-iba-south-africa on 22/11/2024.