Miombo Ecoregion Vision Report - Biodiversity Foundation for Africa

Miombo Ecoregion Report, page 52
8. MATOBO HILLS
An eroded granite batholith in western Zimbabwe, south of Bulawayo, giving rise to a series of
rocky hills and bare rock interspersed with Burkea–Terminalia woodland and grasslands. There
are small patches of mopane woodland and gully forest. In the eastern part there are important
seeps and wetlands with peat.
There are five endemic plant taxa (Cyphostemma milleri, Lobelia lobata, Maytenus heterophylla
subsp. puberula, Triaspis dumeticola, Turrea fischeri subsp. eyelsii). The wetter eastern section
contains significant outlying populations of a number of forest and mesic species, more typical of
E Zimbabwe, as well as wetland species, both very unusual this far west in the region. The area
has a high density of medium-sized predators including leopard and various raptors, with one of
the highest densities worldwide of breeding Black Eagle. It is the predator-prey relationship
based on a high density of rock hyrax that is particularly unusual. Protected (introduced)
populations of Black and White Rhino are also found. There is a high species richness of
Odonata and Lepidoptera.
The Matopos National Park forms the central part of the area, but a significant portion is
commercial farmland, with communal land on the southern margin. There are a number of very
important cultural sites in the area, leading to its proposal as a World Heritage site. Tourism is
well developed, but there are land use conflicts at the margins of the area resulting from
increasing human and livestock populations, which has led to various CBNRM initiatives. The
Matobo hills are an IBA.
9. SHASHE / LIMPOPO VALLEY
A relatively small transfrontier area centred on the confluence of the seasonal Shashe and
Limpopo rivers in SW Zimbabwe/NW South Africa/E Botswana. The vegetation of the hot, dry
area of low rainfall is mostly mopane woodland, but the key habitats are woodland/shrubland on
Karoo sandstone hills and riparian woodland.
There is a small population of elephant moving between the three countries, and moderate
populations of other wildlife. Total plant species diversity in the Zimbabwe section is over 100
species with at least two endemics/near endemics (Jatropha loristipula, Pavetta gwandensis).
The are contains some of the most extensive and best developed riparian woodland forest in this
section of the Limpopo valley. An Important Bird Area, the Vhembe Nature Reserve, is situated
in the South African portion, which supports significant populations of waterbirds on the
floodplain, and a significant number of nationally and globally threatened bird species. The
Shashe/Limpopo area is a centre of diversity for reptiles, containing relict populations of
Kalahari species such as Horned Adder and Barking Gecko. 100 reptile species and 18
amphibians have been recorded; four reptiles are endemic (T. subtaeniatus, Homopholis mulleri,
Platysaurus relictus and P. monotropis).
Although not yet formalised, the area is proposed as a trans-frontier conservation area (TFCA).
On the Botswana side is commercial farmland, mostly managed for wildlife, while on the
Zimbabwe side the Tuli Circle is a protected Safari Area, two large commercial properties most
of which are managed for wildlife-based tourism, and communal land. The latter are part of the
CAMPFIRE programme. Much of the South African portion is under conservation management
as formally or privately protected area.
The cultural sites in the area (e.g. Mapungwane), wildlife, and the scenic nature of the sandstone
country, give a significant potential for tourism. Human population density is low, with liitle in