Monte Diatuto (15793)
Timor-Leste, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Monte Diatuto
Central coordinates: Latitude: -8.8080, Longitude: 125.8730
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 600 to 1770
Area of KBA (km2): 374.05097
Protected area coverage (%): 51.32
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Described as “steep mountains and hills covered in rather stunted ultra basic forests, disturbed in the lower parts but quite well formed on the summits” (FAO/UNDP (1982). This area was considered one of the three highest priorities for conservation of biodiversity in Timor-Leste by FAO/UNDP (1982), and with high socio-economic value such as watershed maintenance. Known in Indonesian as ‘Hutan Querelau Lauberio’ (RTK 11) (Ora 2000). The habitat is described as semi-evergreen monsoon forest, locally heavily degraded and now mostly confined to the upper ridges, with grazed Eucalyptus woodland elsewhere on the ridges (Mauro 2003).
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. KBA identified by the 2014 CEPF Wallacea Ecosystem Profile process. Taxonomy and threat status follow the 2013 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: Fourteen restricted-range species have been recorded in this IBA, including the Endangered Timor Imperial-pigeon and Timor Green-pigeon, and the Critically Endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo also occurs there (Mauro 2003).
Delineation rationale: 2015-06-10 (BL Secretariat): site area changed from 34452 ha to 37486 ha, following 2014 CEPF Ecosystem Profile.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Described as “steep mountains and hills covered in rather stunted ultra basic forests, disturbed in the lower parts but quite well formed on the summits” (FAO/UNDP (1982). This area was considered one of the three highest priorities for conservation of biodiversity in Timor-Leste by FAO/UNDP (1982), and with high socio-economic value such as watershed maintenance. Known in Indonesian as ‘Hutan Querelau Lauberio’ (RTK 11) (Ora 2000). The habitat is described as semi-evergreen monsoon forest, locally heavily degraded and now mostly confined to the upper ridges, with grazed Eucalyptus woodland elsewhere on the ridges (Mauro 2003).
Land use: nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Forest | 95 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Ora (2000) listed illegal timber cutting and forest conversion for agricultural plots including coffee plantations as threats to this IBA.