Staaten River (23463)
Australia, Australasia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, B1, D1a

Year of last assessment: 2009

National site name: Staaten River

Central coordinates: Latitude: -16.6563, Longitude: 142.7977

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 48 to 150

Area of KBA (km²): 4700.73303

Protected area coverage (%): 99.64

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Staaten River IBA is identical to the large remote National Park of the same name located at the western base of Cape York Peninsula in far north-west Queensland. It includes a substantial section of the least changed tropical savannas in Queensland. The Golden-shouldered Parrot population gives it particular importance but it is also large enough, and sufficiently connected to, surrounding woodlands, for the populations of most other bird species occurring within it to be self-sustaining. Vegetation is savanna woodland intersected by ephemeral streams with a small number of perennial waterholes. No vehicular access helps protect its relatively pristine condition with few weeds or feral animals. This IBA also has such poor soil and fodder that there are few feral cattle or pigs and, being at the top of a catchment, it has very few exotic weeds.

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: The Golden-shouldered Parrots are commonly associated with the near threatened Cape York subspecies of the Black-faced Woodswallow and other seasonal migrants such as White-winged Triller and songlarks. Much of the area is ornithologically unexplored so the true abundance of some of its many species is unknown. Non-bird biodiversity: Little is known of other flora and fauna.

Other site values: Queensland State Government

Habitats

Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	57
Savanna	28
Grassland	10
Shrubland	5

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Visit every five years to check density of Golden-shouldered Parrot nests. Monitor for presence of invasive species (currently largely absent). Monitor fire history to check for deviations from current regime.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Trend Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Unspecified species	Ongoing

Additional information

References: Crowley, G.M., Garnett, S.T. and Shephard, S. (2004) Management guidelines for golden-shouldered parrot conservation. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane. Garnett, S.T. and Crowley, G.M. (2003) Recovery plan for the golden-shouldered parrot Psephotus chrysopterygius 2003-2007. Environment Australia and Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane.