Page 46 - State of Biodiversity 2023-2024

4.4. SPECIES’ ABUNDANCE: KWAZULU DWARF CHAMELEON
Strategic Objective
To conserve a viable in situ (wild) coastal population of the KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon in perpetuity throughout its historical range in KwaZulu-Natal, through a shared commitment on private, communal and State land.
Biodiversity Targets
To conserve three viable free-living sub-populations of the coastal population of the KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon in perpetuity and to improve the status and viability of the sub-population at Chameleon Park and adjacent area in Bellair, Durban.
1. At least three viable sub-populations of 7 000 adults each conserved across the range of the coastal population.
2. A viable sub-population conserved at Chameleon Park and connected D’MOSS areas.
3. A total of at least 100 adults conserved at Chameleon Park.
Abundance Parameters
a. Number of viable sub-populations, where a viable sub-population comprises 7000 adults, estimated by the amount of contiguous potential habitat remaining of large enough area to support a viable sub-population (582 ha at a density of 12.02 ha-1).
b. Estimated amount of contiguous potential habitat in the eThekwini Municipal Area that comprises Chameleon Park and other potential habitat in the vicinity.
c. Number of adult KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleons at Chameleon Park.
Indicator Relevance
The coastal population of the KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon is confined to the central and southern coastal strip of KwaZulu-Natal, and the main vegetation type (KwaZulu- Natal Coastal Belt Grassland) inhabited by this chameleon is Critically Endangered. This vegetation type has been largely transformed by urbanisation, timber farming and sugarcane cultivation, and is still being transformed by urbanisation in particular. The coastal population of the KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon is therefore threatened with extinction, and the IUCN red list status of the species as a whole is Vulnerable. The Umbilo River valley was considered by Raw (1995) as important for the conservation of the KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon and he suggested the setting up of a reserve there and linking it to other suitable habitat through the D’MOSS. The achievement of the biodiversity targets would signal that the long-term persistence of the coastal population of the KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon is assured.
Assessment
Data adequacy
• Quality – fair (landcover data at 400m2 (20m x 20m) resolution for the coastal region of KwaZulu-Natal as at 2020 landcover class extents; annual monitoring at Chameleon Park).
• Quantity – adequate for Chameleon Park.
• Overall confidence in estimates:
• Number of viable subpopulations – Low;
• Chameleon Park adult subpopulation size – High.
44 STATE OF BIODIVERSITY REPORT 2023/2024