ZA035
Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve


IBA Justification

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 Bustard Eupodotis caerulescens NT resident (-) present A1
Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus NT resident (-) present A1, A3
Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres VU resident (-) present A1
Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus NT resident (-) present A1
Rudd's Lark Heteromirafra ruddi EN resident (1998) present A1, A3
Bush Blackcap Sylvia nigricapillus VU 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
Forest Canary Crithagra scotops LC resident (1998) present A2, A3

IBA Conservation

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 very poor 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
Grassland moderate (70–90%) poor (40–69%) very poor
Wetlands (inland) good (>90%) poor (40–69%) poor
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) good (>90%) good (>90%) good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Residential and commercial development happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Natural system modifications happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Human intrusions and disturbance likely in short term (<4 years) some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes 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
Transportation and service corridors happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low
Biological resource use happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low
Pollution likely in short term (<4 years) few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) no or slight decline (<1% 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 Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not compre­hensive and are limited by resources and capacity high

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) minor (<10)
Grassland - Grassland - montane
Wetlands (inland) - Rivers & streams

Land use

Land use % of IBA
water management 60
nature conservation and research 14
agriculture -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve (South Africa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sterkfontein-dam-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 22/12/2024.