Kalahari acacia–baikiaea woodlands

Ecoregion in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe
Kalahari Acacia-Baikiaea woodlands
center
center
map of the Kalahari Acacia-Baikiaea woodlands
Ecology
RealmAfrotropical
BiomeTropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Geography
Area335,400 km2 (129,500 sq mi)
CountriesBotswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe
Conservation
Conservation statusvulnerable

The Kalahari Acacia-Baikiaea woodlands are an ecoregion located in Botswana, northern Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Setting

These woodlands cover the center of southern Africa, from northern Namibia diagonally through to southeast Botswana and just into the Tuli Block of South Africa. In Botswana there is another area running north from the Okavango Delta and the Makgadikgadi Pan towards the border of the Chobe National Park and then east to the border with Zimbabwe. All this is semi-arid sandveld with little surface water. Droughts occur approximately every seven years. Rainfall, when it occurs, is mostly in the summer, from October through March.[1]

The Kalahari Acacia-Baikiaea woodlands are bounded on the north by the Zambezian Baikiaea woodlands, and on the east by the Bushveld. The Kalahari xeric savanna lies to the south and west, and the Angolan mopane woodlands to the northwest.

Flora

The flora depends on the availability of water. The northern section to the west of the Okavango Delta and into Namibia has a moister climate and the Baikiaea plurijuga woodland with bush savanna is dominant. In the hardveld areas to the south, the climate becomes more arid and the plants are dominated by xerophytic acacia.[2]

Fauna

Elephant (Loxodonta africana) in the Kalahari

Fauna includes white and black rhino. Wild dogs and elephant are also notable. Large mammals that migrate through the region include Blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), eland (Taurotragus oryx), zebra (Equus burchelli), buffalo (Syncerus caffer), and red hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus). The region is rich in birdlife including the endemic Bradfield’s hornbill (Tockus bradfieldi).

Threats and preservation

Problems facing the region include the low but growing human population and the increased cattle ranching. The annual movement of the large herbivores are now stopped by veterinary control fences aimed at foot-and-mouth disease in cattle, with devastating effects on their ability to move to water sources in times of drought. Commercial hunting is a major element of tourism in the region but illegal hunting presents the main threat to wildlife. Protected areas within the region include Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana, Khaudom National Park in Namibia, and Nxai Pan National Park, but there is little protection in the hardveld area to the south of the ecoregion.

The diamond mine at Orapa is in the centre of the region but does not present a threat to wildlife.

References

  1. ^ "Kalahari Acacia-Baikiaea woodlands". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  2. ^ EO Earth

External links

  • Wildworld photos
  • Map of the region
  • v
  • t
  • e
National taxon checklists
Plants
Flowering
plants
Animals
Arthropods
Arachnids
  • Harvestmen
  • Microwhip scorpions
  • Pseudoscorpions
  • Scorpions
  • Shorttailed whipscorpions
  • Solifugae
  • Araneae
  • Ixodida
  • Whip spiders and tailless whip scorpions
Insects
  • Alderflies, dobsonflies and fishflies
  • Beetles
  • Booklice, barklice and barkflies
  • Butterflies and moths
  • Caddisflies
  • Cockroaches and termites
  • Dragonflies and damselflies
  • Earwigs
  • Fleas
  • Flies
  • Jumping bristletails
  • Lice
  • Mantises
  • Mayflies
  • Net-winged insects
  • Notoptera
  • Orthoptera
  • Sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants
  • Scorpionflies
  • Silverfish and firebrats
  • Stick and leaf insects
  • Stoneflies
  • Strepsiptera
  • Termites
  • Thrips
  • True bugs
  • Webspinners
Molluscs
Vertebrates
Seaweeds
Fungi
Related
Regional taxon checklists and other minor lists
Tropical and subtropical
moist broadleaf forests
Tropical and subtropical grasslands,
savannas, and shrublands
Montane grasslands
and shrublands
Mediterranean forests,
woodlands, and scrub
Deserts and xeric shrublands
Tundra
Mangroves
Marine ecoregions
Savanna
  • Andesite Mountain Bushveld
  • Aoub Duneveld
  • Barberton Serpentine Sourveld
  • Bhisho Thornveld
  • Cathedral Mopane Bushveld
  • Central Sandy Bushveld
  • Delagoa Lowveld
  • Dwaalboom Thornveld
  • Dwarsberg-Swartruggens Mountain Bushveld
  • Eastern Valley Bushveld
  • Gabbro Grassy Bushveld
  • Gauteng Shale Mountain Bushveld
  • Ghaap Plateau Vaalbosveld
  • Gold Reef Mountain Bushveld
  • Gordonia Duneveld
  • Gordonia Kameeldoring Bushveld
  • Gordonia Plains Shrubland
  • Granite Lowveld
  • Gravelotte Rocky Bushveld
  • Kaalrug Mountain Bushveld
  • Kathu Bushveld
  • Kimberley Thornveld
  • Koranna-Langeberg Mountain Bushveld
  • Kuruman Mountain Bushveld
  • Kuruman Thornveld
  • Kuruman Vaalbosveld
  • KwaZulu-Natal Hinterland Thornveld
  • KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld
  • Lebombo Summit Sourveld
  • Legogote Sour Bushveld
  • Limpopo Ridge Bushveld
  • Limpopo Sweet Bushveld
  • Loskop Mountain Bushveld
  • Loskop Thornveld
  • Lowveld Rugged Mopaneveld
  • Madikwe Dolomite Bushveld
  • Mafikeng Bushveld
  • Makatini Clay Thicket
  • Makhado Sweet Bushveld
  • Makuleke Sandy Bushveld
  • Malelane Mountain Bushveld
  • Mamabolo Mountain Bushveld
  • Marikana Thornveld
  • Molopo Bushveld
  • Moot Plains Bushveld
  • Mopane Basalt Shrubland
  • Mopane Gabbro Shrubland
  • Musina Mopane Bushveld
  • Ngongoni Veld
  • Norite Koppies Bushveld
  • Northern Lebombo Bushveld
  • Northern Zululand Sourveld
  • Nossob Bushveld
  • Nwambyia-Pumbe Sandy Bushveld
  • Ohrigstad Mountain Bushveld
  • Olifantshoek Plains Thornveld
  • Phalaborwa-Timbavati Mopaneveld
  • Pilanesberg Mountain Bushveld
  • Polokwane Plateau Bushveld
  • Postmasburg Thornveld
  • Poung Dolomite Mountain Bushveld
  • Pretoriuskop Sour Bushveld
  • Roodeberg Bushveld
  • Schmidtsdrif Thornveld
  • Schweizer-Reneke Bushveld
  • Sekhukhune Mountain Bushveld
  • Sekhukhune Plains Bushveld
  • South Eastern Coastal Thornveld
  • Southern Lebombo Bushveld
  • Soutpansberg Mountain Bushveld
  • Springbokvlakte Thornveld
  • Stella Bushveld
  • Swaziland Sour Bushveld
  • Tembe Sandy Bushveld
  • Thukela Thornveld
  • Thukela Valley Bushveld
  • Tsende Mopaneveld
  • Tshokwane-Hlane Basalt Lowveld
  • Tzaneen Sour Bushveld
  • Vaalbos Rocky Shrubland
  • VhaVenda Miombo
  • Waterberg Mountain Bushveld
  • Western Maputaland Clay Bushveld
  • Western Maputaland Sandy Bushveld
  • Western Sandy Bushveld
  • Zeerust Thornveld
  • Zululand Coastal Thornveld
  • Zululand Lowveld
Grassland
  • Aliwal North Dry Grassland
  • Amathole Mistbelt Grassland
  • Amathole Montane Grassland
  • Amersfoort Highveld Clay Grassland
  • Barberton Montane Grassland
  • Basotho Montane Shrubland
  • Bedford Dry Grassland
  • Besemkaree Koppies Shrubland
  • Bloemfontein Dry Grassland
  • Bloemfontein Karroid Shrubland
  • Carletonville Dolomite Grassland
  • Central Free State Grassland
  • Drakensberg Afroalpine Heathland
  • Drakensberg Foothill Moist Grassland
  • Drakensberg-Amathole Afromontane Fynbos
  • East Griqualand Grassland
  • Eastern Free State Clay Grassland
  • Eastern Free State Sandy Grassland
  • Eastern Highveld Grassland
  • Egoli Granite Grassland
  • Frankfort Highveld Grassland
  • Income Sandy Grassland
  • Ithala Quartzite Sourveld
  • KaNgwane Montane Grassland
  • Karoo Escarpment Grassland
  • Klerksdorp Thornveld
  • KwaZulu-Natal Highland Thornveld
  • Leolo Summit Sourveld
  • Lesotho Highland Basalt Grassland
  • Low Escarpment Moist Grassland
  • Lydenburg Montane Grassland
  • Lydenburg Thornveld
  • Mabela Sandy Grassland
  • Midlands Mistbelt Grassland
  • Mooi River Highland Grassland
  • Mthatha Moist Grassland
  • Northern Drakensberg Highland Grassland
  • Northern Escarpment Afromontane Fynbos
  • Northern Escarpment Dolomite Grassland
  • Northern Escarpment Quartzite Sourveld
  • Northern Free State Shrubland
  • Northern KwaZulu-Natal Moist Grassland
  • Northern KwaZulu-Natal Shrubland
  • Northern Zululand Mistbelt Grassland
  • Paulpietersburg Moist Grassland
  • Queenstown Thornveld
  • Rand Highveld Grassland
  • Sekhukhune Montane Grassland
  • Senqu Montane Shrubland
  • Southern Drakensberg Highland Grassland
  • Southern KwaZulu-Natal Moist Grassland
  • Soutpansberg Summit Sourveld
  • Soweto Highveld Grassland
  • Steenkampsberg Montane Grassland
  • Stormberg Plateau Grassland
  • Strydpoort Summit Sourveld
  • Tarkastad Montane Shrubland
  • Tsakane Clay Grassland
  • Tsomo Grassland
  • uKhahlamba Basalt Grassland
  • Vaal Reefs Dolomite Sinkhole Woodland
  • Vaal-Vet Sandy Grassland
  • Vredefort Dome Granite Grassland
  • Wakkerstroom Montane Grassland
  • Waterberg-Magaliesberg Summit Sourveld
  • Western Free State Clay Grassland
  • Western Highveld Sandy Grassland
  • Western Lesotho Basalt Shrubland
  • Winburg Grassy Shrubland
  • Wolkberg Dolomite Grassland
  • Woodbush Granite Grassland
  • Xhariep Karroid Grassland
  • Zastron Moist Grassland
Fynbos
  • Agulhas Limestone Fynbos
  • Agulhas Sand Fynbos
  • Albertinia Sand Fynbos
  • Algoa Sandstone Fynbos
  • Atlantis Sand Fynbos
  • Bokkeveld Sandstone Fynbos
  • Boland Granite Fynbos
  • Breede Alluvium Fynbos
  • Breede Quartzite Fynbos
  • Breede Sand Fynbos
  • Breede Shale Fynbos
  • Canca Limestone Fynbos
  • Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
  • Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos
  • Cederberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • Central Coastal Shale Band Vegetation
  • Central Inland Shale Band Vegetation
  • De Hoop Limestone Fynbos
  • Eastern Coastal Shale Band Vegetation
  • Eastern Inland Shale Band Vegetation
  • Elgin Shale Fynbos
  • Elim Ferricrete Fynbos
  • Garden Route Granite Fynbos
  • Garden Route Shale Fynbos
  • Graafwater Sandstone Fynbos
  • Greyton Shale Fynbos
  • Grootrivier Quartzite Fynbos
  • Hangklip Sand Fynbos
  • Hawequas Sandstone Fynbos
  • Hopefield Sand Fynbos
  • Kamiesberg Granite Fynbos
  • Kango Conglomerate Fynbos
  • Knysna Sand Fynbos
  • Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • Kouebokkeveld Alluvium Fynbos
  • Kouebokkeveld Shale Fynbos
  • Kouga Grassy Sandstone Fynbos
  • Kouga Sandstone Fynbos
  • Leipoldtville Sand Fynbos
  • Loerie Conglomerate Fynbos
  • Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos
  • Matjiesfontein Quartzite Fynbos
  • Matjiesfontein Shale Fynbos
  • Montagu Shale Fynbos
  • Namaqualand Sand Fynbos
  • North Hex Sandstone Fynbos
  • North Kammanassie Sandstone Fynbos
  • North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • North Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos
  • North Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • North Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos
  • North Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • Northern Inland Shale Band Vegetation
  • Olifants Sandstone Fynbos
  • Overberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • Peninsula Granite Fynbos
  • Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos
  • Piketberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • Potberg Ferricrete Fynbos
  • Potberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • Robertson Granite Fynbos
  • South Hex Sandstone Fynbos
  • South Kammanassie Sandstone Fynbos
  • South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos
  • South Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • South Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos
  • South Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • Southern Cape Dune Fynbos
  • Stinkfonteinberge Quartzite Fynbos
  • Suurberg Quartzite Fynbos
  • Suurberg Shale Fynbos
  • Swartberg Altimontane Sandstone Fynbos
  • Swartberg Shale Fynbos
  • Swartland Alluvium Fynbos
  • Swartruggens Quartzite Fynbos
  • Swellendam Silcrete Fynbos
  • Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos
  • Western Altimontane Sandstone Fynbos
  • Western Coastal Shale Band Vegetation
  • Winterhoek Sandstone Fynbos
Renosterveld
  • Baviaanskloof Shale Renosterveld
  • Breede Alluvium Renosterveld
  • Breede Shale Renosterveld
  • Central Mountain Shale Renosterveld
  • Central Ruêns Shale Renosterveld
  • Ceres Shale Renosterveld
  • Eastern Ruêns Shale Renosterveld
  • Hantam Plateau Dolerite Renosterveld
  • Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld
  • Kango Limestone Renosterveld
  • Langkloof Shale Renosterveld
  • Matjiesfontein Shale Renosterveld
  • Montagu Shale Renosterveld
  • Mossel Bay Shale Renosterveld
  • Namaqualand Granite Renosterveld
  • Nieuwoudtville Shale Renosterveld
  • Nieuwoudtville-Roggeveld Dolerite Renosterveld
  • Peninsula Shale Renosterveld
  • Robertson Granite Renosterveld
  • Roggeveld Shale Renosterveld
  • Ruêns Silcrete Renosterveld
  • Swartberg Shale Renosterveld
  • Swartland Alluvium Renosterveld
  • Swartland Granite Renosterveld
  • Swartland Shale Renosterveld
  • Swartland Silcrete Renosterveld
  • Uniondale Shale Renosterveld
  • Vanrhynsdorp Shale Renosterveld
  • Western Ruêns Shale Renosterveld
Succulent
Karoo
  • Aggeneys Gravel Vygieveld
  • Agter-Sederberg Shrubland
  • Anenous Plateau Shrubland
  • Bushmanland Inselberg Shrubland
  • Central Knersvlakte Vygieveld
  • Central Richtersveld Mountain Shrubland
  • Citrusdal Vygieveld
  • Die Plate Succulent Shrubland
  • Doringrivier Quartzite Karoo
  • Eastern Little Karoo
  • Eenriet Plains Succulent Shrubland
  • Goariep Mountain Succulent Shrubland
  • Hantam Karoo
  • Kamiesberg Mountains Shrubland
  • Klawer Sandy Shrubland
  • Knersvlakte Dolomite Vygieveld
  • Knersvlakte Quartz Vygieveld
  • Knersvlakte Shale Vygieveld
  • Koedoesberge-Moordenaars Karoo
  • Kosiesberg Succulent Shrubland
  • Lekkersing Succulent Shrubland
  • Little Karoo Quartz Vygieveld
  • Namaqualand Arid Grassland
  • Namaqualand Blomveld
  • Namaqualand Coastal Duneveld
  • Namaqualand Heuweltjie Strandveld
  • Namaqualand Heuweltjieveld
  • Namaqualand Inland Duneveld
  • Namaqualand Klipkoppe Shrubland
  • Namaqualand Shale Shrubland
  • Namaqualand Spinescent Grassland
  • Namaqualand Strandveld
  • Northern Knersvlakte Vygieveld
  • Northern Richtersveld Scorpionstailveld
  • Northern Richtersveld Yellow Duneveld
  • Oograbies Plains Sandy Grassland
  • Piketberg Quartz Succulent Shrubland
  • Platbakkies Succulent Shrubland
  • Prince Albert Succulent Karoo
  • Richtersveld Coastal Duneveld
  • Richtersveld Red Duneveld
  • Richtersveld Sandy Coastal Scorpionstailveld
  • Riethuis-Wallekraal Quartz Vygieveld
  • Robertson Karoo
  • Roggeveld Karoo
  • Rooiberg Quartz Vygieveld
  • Rosyntjieberg Succulent Shrubland
  • Southern Namaqualand Quartzite Klipkoppe Shrubland
  • Southern Richtersveld Inselberg Shrubland
  • Southern Richtersveld Scorpionstailveld
  • Southern Richtersveld Yellow Duneveld
  • Steytlerville Karoo
  • Stinkfonteinberge Eastern Apron Shrubland
  • Swartruggens Quartzite Karoo
  • Tanqua Escarpment Shrubland
  • Tanqua Karoo
  • Tatasberg Mountain Succulent Shrubland
  • Umdaus Mountains Succulent Shrubland
  • Upper Annisvlakte Succulent Shrubland
  • Vanrhynsdorp Gannabosveld
  • Vyftienmyl se Berge Succulent Shrubland
  • Western Bushmanland Klipveld
  • Western Gwarrieveld
  • Western Little Karoo
  • Willowmore Gwarrieveld
Albany
Thicket
and
Strandveld
  • Albany Arid Thicket
  • Albany Bontveld
  • Albany Mesic Thicket
  • Albany Valley Thicket
  • Baviaans Valley Thicket
  • Bethelsdorp Bontveld
  • Blombos Strandveld
  • Buffels Mesic Thicket
  • Buffels Valley Thicket
  • Cape Flats Dune Strandveld
  • Crossroads Grassland Thicket
  • Doubledrift Karroid Thicket
  • Eastern Gwarrieveld
  • Elands Forest Thicket
  • Escarpment Arid Thicket
  • Escarpment Mesic Thicket
  • Escarpment Valley Thicket
  • Fish Arid Thicket
  • Fish Mesic Thicket
  • Fish Valley Thicket
  • Gamka Arid Thicket
  • Gamka Valley Thicket
  • Geluk Grassland Thicket
  • Goukamma Dune Thicket
  • Gouritz Valley Thicket
  • Grahamstown Grassland Thicket
  • Grassridge Bontveld
  • Groot Brak Dune Strandveld
  • Hamburg Dune Thicket
  • Hartenbos Dune Thicket
  • Kasouga Dune Thicket
  • Koedoeskloof Karroid Thicket
  • Lambert's Bay Strandveld
  • Langebaan Dune Strandveld
  • Mons Ruber Fynbos Thicket
  • Motherwell Karroid Thicket
  • Nanaga Savanna Thicket
  • Oudshoorn Karroid Thicket
  • Overberg Dune Strandveld
  • Saldanha Flats Strandveld
  • Saldanha Granite Strandveld
  • Saldanha Limestone Strandveld
  • Saltaire Karroid Thicket
  • Sardinia Forest Thicket
  • St Francis Dune Thicket
  • Subtropical Dune Thicket
  • Sundays Arid Thicket
  • Sundays Mesic Thicket
  • Sundays Valley Thicket
  • Thorndale Forest Thicket
  • Umtiza Forest Thicket
  • Vanstadens Forest Thicket
  • Western Gwarrieveld
  • Willowmore Gwarrieveld
Nama
Karoo
and
desert
  • Albany Broken Veld
  • Blouputs Karroid Thornveld
  • Bushmanland Arid Grassland
  • Bushmanland Basin Shrubland
  • Bushmanland Sandy Grassland
  • Eastern Lower Karoo
  • Eastern Upper Karoo
  • Gamka Karoo
  • Kalahari Karroid Shrubland
  • Lower Gariep Broken Veld
  • Lower Karoo Gwarrieveld
  • Northern Upper Karoo
  • Upper Karoo Hardeveld
  • Western Upper Karoo
  • Alexander Bay Coastal Duneveld
  • Eastern Gariep Plains Desert
  • Eastern Gariep Rocky Desert
  • Helskloof Canyon Desert
  • Kahams Mountain Desert
  • Kwaggarug Mountain Desert
  • Namib Lichen Fields
  • Noms Mountain Desert
  • Northern Nababiepsberge Mountain Desert
  • Richtersberg Mountain Desert
  • Richtersveld Sheet Wash Desert
  • Southern Nababiepsberge Mountain Desert
  • Western Gariep Hills Desert
  • Western Gariep Lowland Desert
  • Western Gariep Plains Desert
Azonal
  • Albany Alluvial Vegetation
  • Albany Dune Strandveld
  • Algoa Dune Strandveld
  • Arid Estuarine Salt Marshes
  • Bushmanland Vloere
  • Cape Estuarine Salt Marshes
  • Cape Inland Salt Pans
  • Cape Lowland Alluvial Vegetation
  • Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetlands
  • Cape Seashore Vegetation
  • Cape Vernal Pools
  • Drakensberg Wetlands
  • Eastern Temperate Freshwater Wetlands
  • Fynbos Riparian Vegetation
  • Highveld Alluvial Vegetation
  • Highveld Salt Pans
  • Lesotho Mires
  • Lower Gariep Alluvial Vegetation
  • Muscadel Riviere
  • Namaqualand Riviere
  • Namaqualand Salt Pans
  • Namaqualand Seashore Vegetation
  • Namib Seashore Vegetation
  • Southern Kalahari Mekgacha
  • Southern Kalahari Salt Pans
  • Southern Karoo Riviere
  • Subantarctic Kelp Bed Vegetation
  • Subtropical Alluvial Vegetation
  • Subtropical Dune Thicket
  • Subtropical Estuarine Salt Marshes
  • Subtropical Freshwater Wetlands
  • Subtropical Salt Pans
  • Subtropical Seashore Vegetation
  • Tanqua Wash Riviere
  • Upper Gariep Alluvial Vegetation
Forest
and
Coastal
belt
  • KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt
  • Maputaland Coastal Belt
  • Maputaland Wooded Grassland
  • Pondoland-Natal Sandstone Coastal Sourveld
  • Transkei Coastal Belt
  • Ironwood Dry Forest
  • Lowveld Riverine Forest
  • Mangrove Forest
  • Northern Afrotemperate Forest
  • Northern Coastal Forest
  • Northern Mistbelt Forest
  • Sand Forest
  • Scarp Forest
  • Southern Afrotemperate Forest
  • Southern Coastal Forest
  • Southern Mistbelt Forest
  • Swamp Forest
Subantarctic
biome
  • Subantarctic Biotic Herbfield and Grassland
  • Subantarctic Cinder Cone Vegetation
  • Subantarctic Coastal Vegetation
  • Subantarctic Drainage Line Vegetation
  • Subantarctic Fellfield
  • Subantarctic Fernbrake Vegetation
  • Subantarctic Mire
  • Subantarctic Polar Desert
not on
VEGMAP
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