Bountiful Islands (23455)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Bountiful Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -16.6645, Longitude: 139.8637
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 4.38935
Protected area coverage (%): 90.03
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Bountiful Islands are a group of small islands (6808ha) in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria. North Bountiful supported a large colony of Crested Terns; south-east Bountiful supported a large colony of Roseate Terns. Some of these islands were formerly covered with Pisonia grandis, but they are now largely grassy supporting substantial breeding populations of seabirds and sea turtles. They are generally low-lying but are based on a laterised ironstone which forms low cliffs along one side of North Bountiful Island. The climate is monsoonal with rain from December to April and a long dry season from May to November.
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: Small colonies of Bridled Tern, Little Tern, Caspian Tern, Silver Gull and Australian Pelican also occur on these islands (Walker 1992). Non-bird biodiversity: The island is one of the largest known breeding sites of Green Turtles, with turtles emerging during the day between breeding attempts (Walker 1992).
Other site values: Traditional owners are Lardil people: Bountiful Island is known as Meldan or Meldanga. http://www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/publications/pubs/thuwathu-bujimulla-plan.pdf. Native title exists over the islands. Permission to visit islands should be sought from Mornington Island Shire Council.
Habitats
Land use: not utilised (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 5 | |
| Grassland | 90 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Monitor tourism and numbers of nesting terns.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (2006) Thuwathu/Bujimulla Sea Country Plan: Aboriginal Management of the Wellesley Islands Management Region of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Department of Environment and Heritage, Canberra. http://www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/publications/pubs/thuwathu-bujimulla-plan.pdf Walker, T.A. (1992) A record Crested Tern Sterna bergii colony and concentrated breeding by seabirds in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Emu 92: 152-156.
Contributors: Nomination prepared by Stephen Garnett.