Red List of South African Species

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Near Threatened (NT)
Assessors: Krystal A Tolley
Facilitators: Graham Alexander
Reviewers: M.D. Hofmeyr John Measey Alex Rebelo Nicolas Telford

Rationale (Changed due to Same category but change in criteria)

This species has a restricted extent of occurrence (184 km2) and area of occupancy (104 km2 ) but it appears to be locally abundant in two isolated forest patches, Qudeni and Nkandla. Nkandla Forest is formally protected, not presently under great threat (Geldenhuys 2000, Berliner et al. 2006) and relatively well managed (I. van der Merwe pers. comm. 2014). Qudeni Forest is not formally protected (although it is gazetted as a Provincial State Forest) and the high anthropogenic pressure on surrounding areas (Driver et al. 2012) leads to the disruption of ecological processes. It is considered degraded due to informal use of resources by a dense surrounding human population (Geldenhuys 2000). In combination with heavily transformed surrounding landscapes and resource extraction in buffer zones, this could lead to the disruption of natural processes in the forest. The species is considered Near Threatened, due to the tenuous nature of the habitat at Qudeni where half the population occurs; it almost qualifies for listing as threatened under criterion B2ab(iii).

Distribution

This species is endemic to Qudeni and Nkandla Forests, two patches of indigenous forest in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Tolley and Burger 2007, Bates et al. 2014), with an EOO of 184 km2 .

Population trend

Trend

No information is currently available on population trends or status, but the species is estimated as being stable in Nkandla forest. In Qudeni forest, where at least half the population occurs, the species may be under some pressure due to disruption of ecological processes in that forest due to the large human population in the area.

Threats

Although this species occurs as two isolated sub populations, this fragmentation is natural. However, considering its small range, the species could be susceptible to natural and anthropogenic pressures regarding the ecological integrity of the forests. Much of the forest habitat in KwaZulu-Natal has been given over to wood plantations and the human population in the area is high, and the area is under heavy pressure from rural subsistence agriculture and resource extraction. However, no additional pressure is expected on the two forest patches (Berliner et al. 2006) so these forests cannot be considered threat locations.

Uses and trade

There is no known utilization or trade of this species (UNEP-WCMC 2017).

Conservation

This species is listed in CITES Appendix II; it occurs in two protected areas. Monitor the situation, especially at Qudeni Forest, and manage it to prevent further encroachment by plantations and to ensure that the impacts of human resource use on the forest are minimized. In the event of further encroachment or habitat degradation, re-evaluate the conservation status of this species. Tilbury and Tolley (2009) noted low levels of gene flow between the Qudeni and Nkandla subpopulations and this, together with differences in body size, casque size and colouration suggested that the two subpopulations should be treated as separate management units.

References 

[@electronic{181632,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2018-2},
 year = {2018}
}
,@techreport{5228,
 address = {Pretoria, South Africa},
 author = {Driver, A., Sink, K.J., Nel, J.N., Holness, S., Van Niekerk, L., Daniels, F., Jonas, Z., Majiedt, P.A., Harris, L. and Maze, K.},
 institution = {South African National Biodiversity Institute and Department of Environmental Affairs},
 title = {National Biodiversity Assessment 2011: An assessment of South Africa’s biodiversity and ecosystems. Synthesis Report},
 year = {2012}
}
,@book{612,
 address = {Pretoria},
 author = {Bates, M.F., Branch, W.R., Bauer, A.M., Burger, M., Marais, J., Alexander, G.J. and de Villiers, M.S.},
 publisher = {Suricata 1. South African National Biodiversity Institute},
 title = {Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland},
 year = {2014}
}
,@book{3009,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {Tolley, K.A. and Burger, M.},
 publisher = {Struik},
 title = {Chameleons of Southern Africa},
 year = {2007}
}
,@book{3009,
 address = {Pietermaritzburg, South Africa},
 author = {Raw, L.R.G.},
 publisher = {M.Sc. thesis, University of Natal},
 title = {Revision of some Dwarf Chameleons (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae: <i>Bradypodion</i>) from Eastern South Africa},
 year = {2001}
}
,@article{3009,
 author = {Tilbury, C.R. and Tolley, K.A.},
 journal = {Zootaxa},
 pages = {43--57},
 title = {A new species of dwarf chameleon (Sauria; Chamaeleonidae, <i>Bradypodion</i> Fitzinger) from KwaZulu Natal South Africa with notes on recent climatic shifts and their influence on speciation in the genus},
 volume = {2226},
 year = {2009}
}
,@techreport{3009,
 address = {Pretoria, South Africa},
 author = {Berliner, D.D., van der Merwe, I., Benn, G. and Rouget, M.},
 institution = {UK DFID for the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry},
 title = {Systematic Conservation Planning for the Forest Biome of South Africa. Approach, Methods and Results of the Selection of Priority Forests for Conservation Action},
 year = {2006}
}
,@article{3009,
 author = {Raw, L.G.R},
 journal = {Durban Museum Novitates},
 pages = {265--269},
 title = {A further new dwarf chameleon from Natal, South Africa (Chamaelonidae: Sauria)},
 volume = {11(15)},
 year = {1978}
}
,@article{3009,
 author = {Raw, L.R.G. and Brothers, D.J.},
 journal = {ZooNova},
 number = {1},
 pages = {1--7},
 title = {Redescription of the South African dwarf chameleon, <i>Bradypodion nemorale</i> Raw 1978 (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae), and description of two new species},
 volume = {1},
 year = {2008}
}
,@book{3009,
 address = {Pretoria, South Africa},
 author = {Geldenhuys, C.J.},
 publisher = {Report Number FW-02/00, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry},
 title = {Assessment of State Forests Managed by Provincal Authorities: KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Services},
 year = {2000}
}
,@electronic{3009,
 address = {https://trade.cites.org/},
 author = {UNEP-WCMC},
 title = {CITES Trade Database},
 year = {2017}
}
,]
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