Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve, Free State, South Africa Photograph by Klaus G. Hinkelmann, www.suedafrika.net   Afrotropics Montane Grasslands and Shrublands   71,900 square miles (186,200 square kilometers) -- about twice the size of Indiana Critical/Endangered

· A Wealth of Diversity
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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A Wealth of Diversity

Grasslands are among the most threatened biomes on Earth, and the Highveld Grassland ecoregion was one of the best examples of grassland you could find. With four distinct grassland communities and a host of endangered animals from pythons to mountain zebras, the diversity of this ecoregion is incredible.

Special Features

The Highveld Grassland ecoregion comprises four different grassland communities: moist-cold, wet-cold, moist-cool, and wet-sandy. Each grassland community is a result of the amount of yearly rainfall and soil types present in that part of the ecoregion. The differences even extend to the taste of the grasses in each area, which can be sweet in lower rainfall areas or sour in higher rainfall areas. Frequent fires, frost, and grazing by cattle and sheep make tree and shrub growth very rare in the region, which has been dominated by grasses for thousands of years and is now the last and greatest expanse of grassland in southern Africa. One of the most interesting features of this region is its importance in natural water purification, which occurs as water moves through the layers of peat in the ground on its way to the water table and human wells. This natural filtering material can remove up to 90 percent of the harmful chemicals in herbicides, for example. However, this peat is mined for use as fuel, horticultural soil conditioner, medicines, and as a pollutant absorbent.

	Africa’s largest snake, the African rock python, lives in this ecoregion.

Wild Side

The Highveld Grassland is home to a large number of rare and endangered species, from straw-colored fruit bats to South African pythons. This diversity extends even to the heavily grazed areas, where Botha’s larks may be seen. In the skies above soar endangered peregrine falcons, martial eagles, and African fish eagles. On the grassy plains below, rare brown hyenas and leopards stalk abundant prey such as common duikers and impalas. Aardwolves, relatives of the hyena, prey on termites by licking them up with their sticky tongues. At night, in the dark riverine woodlands, lesser bush babies jump about and cling to the trees with special pads on their fingers and toes. The loud, shrill cries of these tiny primates sound surprisingly like those of a human baby. In the river, Nile crocodiles wait stealthily in the night for a careless animal to come within their reach. And on the rocky hillsides within the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve, you may even glimpse the elusive and endangered mountain zebra.

Cause for Concern

Unfortunately, the only grassland habitat remaining in a near natural state in this region is restricted to just a few, small nature reserves. Since the Highveld Grassland is one of the best areas for farming in South Africa, much of this habitat has been converted for agriculture. Urban expansion, fire, coal mining, and overgrazing have also led to increased fragmentation of the habitat. Near towns, the invasion of exotic plants such as wattle and eucalyptus is a growing problem. The mass removal of peat is also of concern due to its very slow regeneration process.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.