Malden Island (27462)
Kiribati, Oceania
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Malden Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -4.0245, Longitude: -154.9257
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 8
Area of KBA (km2): 67.14028
Protected area coverage (%): 0.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Malden Island is low and flat. At the centre is an extensive, shallow, lagoon which contains numerous small islets and ridges composed of coral rubble. The island rises steeply from the shore in a series of sand and rubble ridges, particularly on the northern coasts, where the island is exposed to northern Pacific swells and storms.
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.
Additional biodiversity: A substantial seabird colony. Non-bird biodiversity: Green turtles nest in small numbers.
Supersedes another site: 31027
Delineation rationale: This boundary includes the original colony area with an additional 1km marine foraging buffer. These buffers were redefined and are now more appropriate for the trigger species (Lesser Frigatebird, Great Frigatebird, Masked Booby, Red-footed Booby).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The island is uninhabited and has been since the late 1950s. Previously continuously occupied between 1860 and 1920 to mine phosphate on the island. Reoccupied for a few years in the late 1950s as part of the programme to monitor the effects of the Christmas Island nuclear bomb testing. There are 3 or 4 small clumps of Pisonia trees, all that remain after human and goat colonisation. The rest of the island is dominated by low and stunted Sida scrub with low herbs and grasses.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There are small numbers of feral cats on the island, but no rats (Pacific rats appeared to have died out before the 1970s). There are house mice around the deserted buildings. Goats and pigs were also formerly present on the island but have now died out.