Download Succulent Karoo Protected Areas

Succulent Karoo Protected Areas
Namibie
Date de soumission : 18/03/2016
Critères: (ix)(x)
Catégorie : Naturel
Soumis par :
Namibia National Commission for UNESCO
État, province ou région :
Karas Region
Coordonnées S27°00’ E16°30’E to S28°49’ E18°00
Ref.: 6097
Transfrontalières
Description
The Succulent Karoo biome is an internationally recognized biodiversity hotspot, and is the world's only arid hotspot. The
116 000 km2 biome extends from the south-west through the north-western areas of South Africa and into southern
Namibia. The biome is home to 6 356 plant species, 40% of which are endemic and 936 (17%) of which are listed in the
Red Data Book. In addition to its floral diversity, 27 amphibian species, 29% of which are endemic; 121 reptile species,
20% of which are endemic; 68 mammal species, 9% of which are endemic; and 431 bird species have thus far been
recorded.
Nom(s) de l’élément/des éléments constitutif(s)
Portions of Huns-Ai-Ais and Sperrgebiet Parks
Description de l’élément/des éléments constitutif(s)
The Huns-Ai-Ais Park in Namibia represents an extremely rugged, winter-rainfall dominated area with Upland Succulent
Karoo vegetation. It is very well preserved and maintains very high populations of endemic succulent flora and associated
animal life for which the area will be nominated. It forms a contiguous and established transboundary conservation area
with the Richtersveld National Park of South Africa.
The Sperrgebiet Park is adjacent to the Huns-Ai-Ais Park and also forms part of the established transboundary
conservation area with South Africa. It is dominated by Lowland Succulent Karoo flora occurring on its extensive sandy
plains, coastal dunes, and outcrops of hilly terrain. Its floral and faunal elements represent the more arid spectrum of the
ecological and biodiversity components of the proposed nomination as it merges with the Namib Desert Biome towards
the north.
Justification de la Valeur Universelle Exceptionelle
The rich biodiversity of the Succulent Karoo is due to an extensive and complex array of habitat types derived from
topographical and climatic diversity in the region's rugged mountains, semi-arid shrublands, and coastal dunes. The
hallmark of the Succulent Karoo is its exceptionally diverse and endemic-rich flora. This biodiversity is due to massive
speciation of an arid-adapted biota in response to unique climatic conditions and high environmental heterogeneity. The
conditions have remained relatively stable for a long period, thus facilitating the persistence of the products of evolution.
The high regional plant richness is the result of high compositional change of species-rich communities along
environmental and geographical gradients. Many species are extreme habitat specialists, mainly related to soil-type, of
limited range size. Local endemism (i.e. the restriction of species to extremely small ranges of less than 50 km2) is most
pronounced among succulents, especially Mesembryanthemaceae, and bulbs. Similar patterns of compositional change
along gradients have been observed for certain groups of invertebrates.
Criterion (ix): The rich biodiversity of the Succulent Karoo is due to an extensive and complex array of habitat types
derived from topographical and climatic diversity in the region's rugged mountains, semi-arid shrublands, and coastal
dunes. The hallmark of the Succulent Karoo is its exceptionally diverse and endemic-rich flora. This biodiversity is due to
massive speciation of an arid-adapted biota in response to unique climatic conditions and high environmental
heterogeneity. The conditions have remained relatively stable for a long period, thus facilitating the persistence of the
products of evolution. The high regional plant richness is the result of high compositional change of species-rich
communities along environmental and geographical gradients.
Criterion (x): The biome is home to 6 356 plant species, 40% of which are endemic and 936 (17%) of which are listed in
the Red Data Book. In addition to its floral diversity, 27 amphibian species, 29% of which are endemic; 121 reptile
species, 20% of which are endemic; 68 mammal species, 9% of which are endemic; and 431 bird species have thus far
been recorded.
Déclarations d’authenticité et/ou d’intégrité
The Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Planning (SKEP) process, funded by Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, compiled an
ecosystem profile that identified nine priority areas for conservation within the Succulent Karoo. Through the SKEP
process, specific areas within each of these nine priority areas are being identified and targeted for elevated conservation
status. Priority areas in Namibia already have national legal protected status in the Huns-Ai-is and Sperrgebiet Parks.
These protected areas in Namibia are of sufficient size to cater for criteria (ix) and are placed in areas that capture the
maximum biodiversity for criteria (x). They are adequately managed and are not threatened by development pressures.
Mining impacts within the Succulent Karoo are generally localized, are subject to EIA legislation and regulations, and are
not situated close to priority areas. The SKEP process will verify the contribution of these protected areas and whether or
not they are correctly placed and have the correct configuration to meet the conservation targets that have been set for
conservation of biodiversity "pattern and process". It is envisaged that the existing legally conserved areas will be
evaluated with regard to their suitability to contribute to a Succulent Karoo Protected Areas (SKPA) WHS transnational
serial nomination.
Justification de la sélection de l’élément/des éléments constitutif(s) en relation avec la future
proposition d’inscription dans son ensemble
The Namibian components do not only contain some of the best preserved populations of rare and unique species
endemic to the Succulent Karoo, but also a significant proportion of endemic species of the Succulent Karoo as a whole
that are only found in the more arid parts of that ecosystem. The Namibian components furthermore represent some of
the most intact and contiguous protected areas of the proposed nomination as a whole.
Comparaison avec d’autres biens similaires
The only other comparable serial nomination for an entire internationally recognized biodiversity hotspot is the adjacent
Cape Floral Region Protected Areas WHS. Due to large regions of "overlap" between these two contiguous hotspots,
where transition from one to the other can occur over very small distances, the addition of the SKPA would, in many
cases, be mutually complementary.
The IUCN has identified the Succulent Karoo as a very definite gap on the World Heritage list, being the most biologically
diverse arid area in the world.