Washikemba - Fontein - Onima, Bonaire (20786)
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (to Netherlands), Caribbean
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Washikemba - Fontein - Onima, Bonaire
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.2393, Longitude: -68.2808
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 45
Area of KBA (km2): 59.59142
Protected area coverage (%): 36.41
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Area extending along coast inland to escarpments from Washikemba in the south to Playa Grandi in the north and including the natural springs and cliffs of Fontein and the cliffs and intermittent ponds at Washikemba, Onima dam, and inland from Playa Grandi. There is very limited human settlement in this area as it is generally on the more barren northeastern side of the island but it does include a number of sites of cultural and historic significance with ancient inscriptions of the original pre-European aboriginal inhabitants of Bonaire.
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: likely meets 1% global threshold for Yellow-shouldered Amazon, possibly Caribbean Coot occasionally • meets 1% regional threshold for Least Tern • breeding area for Pearly-eyed Thrasher and suite of thorn scrub species Surveys of Least Terns in 2002 documented 452 birds (>10% of regional population) within this IBA along the eastern coast from near Boca Onima south to near Washikemba. Caribbean Coot, has been documented as an intermittent breeder largely at three reservoir/water impoundment sites all within this IBA—Onima Reservoir, Playi Grandi Reservoir, and Washikemba Reservoir. Records from the period 1974-2001 indicate that at Onima Reservoir has had as many as 200 birds with confirmed breeding, Playa Grandi Reservoir as many as 26 birds with confirmed breeding, and Washikemba Reservoir as many as 20 birds with confirmed breeding. There are no estimates of global population size available against which to evaluate the significance of these numbers. Yellow-shouldered Amazon are also known to nest within the cliffs that extend from Onima to Fontein and have long-frequented Fontein for its permanent freshwater and the (introduced) fruit trees as well as a roosting site. Winter roost counts estimate over 100 birds (Williams and Martin, personal comments).
Delineation rationale: Mark has the shapefile.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Generally very sparse vegetation with much of area on seaward side essentially barren. Areas closest to coast often have sparse low-growing salt tolerant plants especially Sesuvium portulacastrum and Lithophila muscoides and Euphorbia species. As one moves further on from the coastline there are occasional cacti (Subpilocereus repandus, Pilosocerues lanuginosus, Melocactus sp.) and small shrubs (Prosopis juliflora and others).
Land use: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Greatest threats come from continued illegal trapping of wild Yellow-shouldered Parrots, destructive foraging of free-ranging goats and donkeys and potential depredation from feral cats on nesting terns and plovers, and possibly in some areas from human disturbance of tern nesting colonies, especially by sight-seers.
Additional information
References: Ligon (2005);De Freitas et al (2005);Debrot et al. (2006);Island Resource Foundation (no date); Prins, T.G. & Nijman, V. (2005);Prins et al. (2005);Voous(1983);Wells, J. V. and A. C. Wells (2006);Williams, S. (2003)