Viti Levu Southern Highlands (20333)
Fiji, Oceania
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Viti Levu Southern Highlands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -18.0833, Longitude: 178.2833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 427 to 915
Area of KBA (km2): 697.31349
Protected area coverage (%): 1.83
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is mostly a chain of hills and low mountains, rising to the mountains of Makuluva (615m) and Nakorolo (860m) in Namosi, and Nakobalevu (464m) and Korobaba (422m) in the east.
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: Long-legged Warbler has been confirmed at a couple of sites within the IBA. Frinedly Ground-dove and Pink-billed Parrotfinch are present, but scarce while Black-faced Shrikebill are regularly recorded at a number of sites. 24 of the Restricted Range species present on Viti Levu (25 in total) can be found on this site. Other Biodiversity. Namosi is the best known site for the endemic Fijian Burrowing Snake. A skink, similar to the Turquoise Tree Skink, has been recorded here.
Other site values: Land tenure is mostly Native Lands, with 18 small Freehold Lands (totalling about 2,031ha) and five Crown lands (1,177ha).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The hills and low mountains are covered by lowland rainforest. Many of the isolated hills and low mountains, such as Korobaba, have stunted vegetation because of the shallowness of the soil, exposure to strong winds and the Massenerhebung effect of lower altitudinal zones on smaller mountains. Much of the IBA is unlogged because of steep slopes, but logging roads are scattered across the area, especially at low altitudes. A few small areas have been planted with mahogany. The site is bordered, to the west by logged forest, to the south by the coastal agricultural belt and to the north by the agriculture along the Waimanu river valley. Toe the east there are settlements on the edge of Suva, and the mahogany plantations of the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Logging, Agricultural Encroachment, Invasive Alien Species (rats, mongoose, vines, etc), Mineral extraction.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: BirdLife International. Fiji Programme IBA project field reports. Nos 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 15, 16 and 21. Keppell G (2005) botanical survey at Savura, a lowland rain forest site along the PABITRA Gateway Transect, Viti Levu, Fiji. Pacific Science 59, 175-191 Kirkpatrick JB and Hassall D. C. (1985) The vegetation and flora along an altitudinal transect through tropical forest at Mount Korobaba, Fiji. New Zealand Journal of Botany 23: 33-46 Watling, R, Vodonivalu, S, Balawa J, Singh B and Rodda P. (1989) A management plan for the Garrick Memorial Reserve, Fiji. Suva Environment Consultants (Fiji) Ltd.