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ZA050
Entumeni Nature Reserve
Location South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal
Central coordinates 31o 22.00' East  28o 53.00' South
IBA criteria A1, A2, A3
Area 508 ha
Altitude 570 - 781m
Year of IBA assessment 2001

BirdLife South Africa



Ornithological information See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. The forest holds a small breeding population of the globally threatened Zoothera guttata. The forest also holds the following important species: Columba delegorguei, Cossypha dichroa and Cercotrichas signata. Lioptilus nigricapillus and Bradypterus barratti occur as uncommon winter visitors. Polemaetus bellicosus breeds in the reserve, and a family of Bucorvus cafer includes the Entumeni grasslands in its territory. The forest also supports Smithornis capensis, Telophorus olivaceus, Mandingoa nitidula and Tchagra tchagra.

Site description Entumeni is located 8 km west of Eshowe. Most of the site slopes steeply. The Ngoje river, which rises just outside the reserve, runs through the forest. The greater part of the site is coastal scarp forest. Common trees include Ficus, Calodendrum, Zanthoxylum, Millettia and Margaritaria. Podocarpus is rare, but there are few saw-pits, and commercial exploitation of the forest has been slight. The understorey is very rich; typical trees are Rawsonia and Rinorea, with Duvernoia along drainage lines. Two patches of grassland, totalling 34 ha, are also present on the site, as is a further 38 ha of lightly wooded grassland.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Knysna Turaco Tauraco corythaix resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A2, A3  Least Concern 
Olive Bush-shrike Telophorus olivaceus resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Grey Cuckooshrike Coracina caesia resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
African Scrub-warbler Bradypterus barratti resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Bush Blackcap Lioptilus nigricapillus resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A2, A3  Near Threatened 
Black-bellied Glossy-starling Lamprotornis corruscus resident  1998  -  -    Least Concern 
Spotted Ground-thrush Zoothera guttata breeding  -  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Endangered 
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Chorister Robin-chat Cossypha dichroa resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A2, A3  Least Concern 
Brown Scrub-robin Erythropygia signata resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Mouse-coloured Sunbird Nectarinia veroxii resident  1998  -  -    Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Entumeni Provincial Nature Reserve 547 protected area contains site 508  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Grassland   -
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial)   4%
Unknown   8%
Forest   87%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
unknown -
agriculture -

Other biodiversity The forest is botanically diverse. Three rare trees, Alchornea hirtella, Millettia sutherlandii and Cryptocarya wyliei are present, as is the orchid Eulophia speciosa and the cycad Encephalartos villosus. The population of the latter is the most important in South Africa, and extensive stands occur.

Management considerations The forest is in fairly good condition. Past exploitation has been minimal. Few non-native, invasive plant species are present, and the main infestation on the western boundary is being controlled. There are no threats to the forest, nor plans for any development.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Entumeni Nature Reserve. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013

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