Taveuni Highlands (20327)
Fiji, Oceania
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1e, B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2018
National site name: Taveuni Highlands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -16.8300, Longitude: -179.9000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 1241
Area of KBA (km2): 290.90582
Protected area coverage (%): 25.81
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Taveuni is an old shield volcano dotted with more than 150 volcanic craters, which last erupted in 1658. The southern slopes rise steeply out of the sea and are characterised by high rainfall (up to 7 m/year), land-slips and regenerating forest. The mountains are even wetter (up to 10 m/year), but the north side is in a slight rain-shadow.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Alliance for Zero Extinction (2018): site confirmed as an AZE site during the AZE project (2015-2018). Taxonomy, nomenclature and Red List category follow the IUCN 2016 Red List.
Additional biodiversity: The Taveuni Mountains retain extensive unsurveyed forest which may be suitable for Red-throated Lorikeet, although none have been confirmed since 11 specimens were taken between 1887 and 1912. The majority of the world populations of eight subspecies of bird endemic to Taveuni breed in this IBA. A1 Globally threatened species * [Red-throated Lorikeet (CR) – historical records (last sighting in 1875); may still occur] * Friendly Ground-dove (VU) – fairly common * Black-faced Shrikebill (VU) – uncommon * Tahiti Petrel (NT) – the largest recorded numbers in Fiji (>150 were seen offshore in 2003) * Silktail (NT) – most of the estimated 5,000–8,000 pairs on Taveuni breed here A2 Restricted-range species 23 species (out of 23 on Taveuni), including all three endemic to Taveuni and Vanua Levu. A4ii Congregatory seabird species * Tahiti Petrel – poorly known but may meet the threshold of >100 pairs] Non-bird biodiversity: Only partial surveys have been completed for plants but at least seven plant species are identified as endemic to this IBA. Threatened endemic plants include Syzygium phaeophyllum (CR), Alsmithia longipes (EN) and Neuburgia macroloba (EN). Also found commonly at higher altitudes on the island is the well-known Tagimaucia Medinilla waterhousei, which has been suggested as a suitable national flower for Fiji. The Fiji Flying-fox (CR) is only known from a few specimens from the summit forests of Taveuni. Both the Fijian Ground Frog (EN) and Fijian Tree Frog (NT) are found here, alongside several lizards which do not occur on islands with mongoose.
Other site values: The land tenure is a mixture of Native Lands and Freehold Lands.
Delineation rationale: Longitude of exactly 180 degrees has been slightly altered, as the Google map-tack doesn't display in Map View when longitude = 180. 2015-10-20 (BL Secretariat): IBA incorporates the KBA Taveuni Forest Reserve (15,000 ha) (CEPF Ecosystem Profile 2007).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The Taveuni Highlands IBA is the combination of the Ravilevu Nature Reserve, Taveuni Forest Reserve and Bouma National Heritage Park together with adjacent old-growth forest in the mountains and hills to the north-west. This IBA covers approximately 65% of Taveuni, Fiji’s third biggest island (442 km2). Most of the IBA is lowland and montane forest but large areas of the steep unstable slopes have broken-canopy forest. Additional habitats include the coast and some small wetlands, notably Lake Tagimaucia which has few birds but is nationally important as a large freshwater lake and marsh. Taveuni is exceptional in having a high proportion of remaining forest including an intact ridge-to-reef ecosystem, extremely rare in the Pacific. Taveuni is also extremely important as the largest mongoose-free island in Fiji. Although it has most of the other invasive alien species found across Fiji, these are probably having lesser impacts because Taveuni retains a large unfragmented forest.
Land use: agriculture | forestry | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 90 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There is currently a low threat from small-scale subsistence and cash-crop agriculture, e.g. kava (yaqona). Encroachment is likely to continue unless local people become more aware of conservation. Human disturbance (such as recreational activities) and direct harvesting may occur at this site although the threat these activities pose is unknown. Invasive Alien Species represent the greatest threat to seabirds globally (Croxall et al. 2012), causing adult mortality and reduced productivity owing to egg and chick predation. Feral Cats, House Mice, Polynesian Rats, Brown Rats, Black Rats and Feral Pigs are confirmed to occur on Taveuni Islands and are likely to occur in the highlands (SPREP, 2000). Polynesian Rat is ubiquitous throughout the Pacific (IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group 2012). Rats have been recorded predating adult seabirds as well as eggs and chicks (Kepler 1967). They have precipitated island extinctions in small-bodied, ground-nesting seabirds, but their impacts on larger or arboreal nesting seabirds appear to be lower (Atkinson 1985, Jones et al. 2008). Small Indian Mongoose was surveyed for and was not present in September 2002, considering the impact mongoose has had on other Fijian Islands it is important that they do not reach Taveuni (Morley, 2004). Overall, invasive mammals are known to be present and are likely to be having a limiting effect on seabirds, or causing population declines. Seabirds are highly visually oriented and known to become disorientated at night in the presence of artificial light (Bruderer et al., 1999). On archipelagos worldwide, thousands of fledglings of different petrel species are attracted to artificial lights during their first flights from nest-burrows to the sea, a phenomenon called ‘fallout’ (Reed et al. 1985, Telfer et al. 1987, Le Corre et al. 2002, Rodríguez & Rodríguez 2009, Miles et al. 2010, Rodrigues et al. 2011). Grounded birds are vulnerable to starvation, predation, dehydration and collision with vehicles. The prevalence of this potential threat at this site is not known but it may be having a negative impact.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Excess energy | Light pollution | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Atkinson, I. A. E. (1985) The spread of commensal species of Rattus to oceanic islands and their effect on island avifaunas. Pages 35-81 in P. J. Moors, editor. Conservation of island birds. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, United Kingdom. BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL (2005) Fiji Programme IBA project field reports Nos 39 and 40. Botanical Biodiversity in Fiji. Technical Group 3,Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Suva: Department of Environment. Unpublished report. Bruderer, B., Peter, D. and Steuri, T. (1999) Behavior of migrating birds exposed to Xband radar and a bright light beam. Journal of Experimental Biology 202: 1015–1022. Le Corre, M., Ollivier, A., Ribes, S. and Jouventin, P. (2002) Light-induced mortality of petrels: a 4-year study from Réunion Island (Indian Ocean). Biol. Conserv. 105: 93–102. Croxall, J. P., Butchart, S. H. M., Lascelles, B., Stattersfield, A. J., Sullivan, B., Symes, A. and Taylor, P. (2012) Seabird conservation status, threats and priority actions: a global assessment. Bird Conservation International 22: 1-34. Duffy, D. C. (2010) Changing Seabird Management in Hawai‘i: from exploitation through management to restoration. Waterbirds 33: 193-207. FLANNERY, T. F. (1995) Mammals of the South-west Pacific and Moluccan Islands. Sydney: Reed Books.GoF (1998) GOF-IUCN (1993) An Integrated Development Plan for Taveuni Island. National Environment Management Project. Suva: Government of Fiji. IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (2012) Rattus exulans. Global Invasive Species Database. Downloaded from http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=170&fr=1&sts=sss on 8th October 2012. Jones, H. P., Tershy, B. R., Zavaleta, E. S., Croll, D. A., Keitt, B. S., Finkelstein, M. E. and Howald, G. R. (2008) Severity of the effects of invasive rats on seabirds: a global review. Conservation Biology 22: 16-26. Kepler, B. (1967) Polynesian rat predation on nesting Laysan Albatrosses and other Pacific seabirds. Auk 84: 426-430. Miles, W., Money, S., Luxmoore, R. and Furness, R.W. (2010) Effects of artificial lights and moonlight on petrels at St Kilda. Bird Study 57: 244–251. MORLEY, C. G. (2004) Has the invasive mongoose Herpestes javanicus yet reached the island of Taveuni, Fiji? Oryx 38: 457–460. NLTB AND MINISTRY OF FORESTRY (1991) A Management Plan for Bouma Forest Park, Taveuni, Fiji Islands. Wellington: New Zealand Ministry of External Relations and Trade. NLTB AND MINISTRY OF FORESTRY (1994) Bouma Environmental Tourism Project. Suva: Government of Fiji. Unpublished report. Reed, J.R., Sincock, J.L. & Hailman, J.P. (1985) Light attraction in endangered Procellariiform birds: reduction by shielding upward radiation. Auk 102: 377–383. Rodrigues, P., Aubrecht, C., Gil, A., Longcore, T. and Elvidge, C. (2011) Remote sensing to map influence of light pollution on Cory’s Shearwater in São Miguel Island, Azores Archipelago. Eur. J. Wildl. Res. doi: 10.1007/s10344-011-0555-5. Rodríguez, A. and Rodríguez, B. (2009) Attraction of petrels to artificial lights in the Canary Islands: effect of the moon phase and age class. Ibis 151: 299–310. Rodríguez, C., Torres, R. and Drummond, H. (2006) Eradicating introduced mammals from a forested tropical island. Biological Conservation 130: 98-105. SWINNERTON, K. AND MALJKOVIC, A. (2002) The Red-throated Lorikeet Charmosyna amabilis in the Fiji Islands. Suva: National Trust for Fiji and World Parrot Trust. Unpublished report. Telfer, T.C., Sincock, J.L., Byrd, G.V. and Reed, J.R. (1987) Attraction of Hawaiian seabirds to lights: conservation efforts and effects of moon phase. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 15: 406–413. WATLING, D. (1986) Notes on the Collared Petrel Pterodroma (leucoptera) brevipes. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club 106: 63–70.