Norfolk Island (23979)
Norfolk Island (to Australia), Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1e, B1, B2, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2018
National site name: Norfolk Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -29.0307, Longitude: 167.9532
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 318
Area of KBA (km2): 35.93807
Protected area coverage (%): 19.88
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA consists of the whole of Norfolk Island and the small Nepean Island, a small (3455 ha) island located in the western Pacific Ocean about 1700 km east of Sydney. The whole island is designated as an IBA given its endemic birds but rainforest is clearly the most important habitat on the island. Norfolk Island is an Australian territory that shares close links with New Zealand (lying 1100 km from Auckland). The climate at Norfolk Island is sub-tropical with temperatures ranging from 19 to 28oC in summer and 12 to 21oC in winter and an average 1328 mm of rainfall per year. Norfolk Island is formed of basaltic rock with overlying Kraznorem and skeletal soils. Today, most of Norfolk Island is covered by mixed farmland (e.g. pasture, croplands, orchards) and residential/commercial areas. The native rainforest and palm and vine forest that once dominated the island have been extensively cleared and are now mostly confined to the 650 ha Norfolk Island National Park. Introduced plants such as Red Guava, African Olive, Wild Tobacco, Lantana and Hawaiian Holly have invaded and in many instances replaced the native vegetation of the island. In addition to these species, the island also now supports some stands of introduced eucalypts. The coastline of Norfolk Island comprises a combination of sandy beaches, rocky shores and coastal cliffs. Nepean Island is a low (~30 m) island formed of aeolianitic calcarenite that supports coastal herbs and forbs (e.g. Pigface and Native Spinach), Moo-oo, Native Rush, Native Flax, some Coastal Fern and several small (less than 2 m tall) White Oaks.
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. Alliance for Zero Extinction (2018): site confirmed as an AZE site during the AZE project (2015-2018). Taxonomy, nomenclature and Red List category follow the IUCN 2016 Red List.
Additional biodiversity: Norfolk Island supports various endemic subspecies of bush birds. Several subspecies appear to be declining and are listed as threatened under national legislation: Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis xanthoprocta, Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa pelzelni, Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus norfolkiensis and Pacific Robin Petroica multicolor multicolor. The population size of the endemic subspecies of Pacific Robin was estimated at 400-500 breeding pairs in 1988 (Robinson 1988) and numbers appeared to have changed little when the population was re-examined in 1997 (Robinson 1997). A hybrid race of Southern Boobook has been generated by cross-breeding of the now-extinct endemic subspecies Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata with the nominate subspecies N. n. novaehollandiae of New Zealand (Olsen 1996; Norman et al. 1998). Other endemic species and subspecies (e.g. Norfolk Island Ground-Dove and Island Thrush Turdus poliocephalus poliocephalus) are now extinct. Relatively large numbers of White Tern and Black Noddy breed: White Tern were assessed as abundant and widespread on Norfolk Island by Schodde et al. (1983) and thousands of Black Noddy were recorded at breeding colonies near Cascade in 1971, with an additional 200-300 pairs at Nepean Island (Tarburton 1981; Moore 1985; Norfolk Island Parks and Forestry Service 2003), but both species probably declined between 1995 and 2008 (R. Holdaway in litt. 2009). A wide variety of seabirds nest in small numbers on mammal-free Nepean Island. Non-bird biodiversity: The extant endemic non-avian fauna of the IBA consists of two species of reptile (the nationally vulnerable Lord Howe Island Gecko and Lord Howe Island Skink, now only on Nepean Island), two species of freshwater fish (Short-finned Eel and Long-finned Eel) and a rich variety of invertebrates (Commonwealth of Australia 2000).
Other site values: A mix of private (freehold and leasehold land) and Commonwealth/Federal government (managed by Parks Australia).
Delineation rationale: 2012-12-17 (BL Secretariat): original polygon clipped to hi-res coastline following identification in October 2012 of new marine IBA offshore this site; site area consequently changed from 3510 ha to 3594 ha.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 5 | |
| Forest | 30 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 30 | |
| Introduced Vegetation | 30 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Conduct exhaustive surveys to determine status of White-chested White-eye. Eradicate introduced mammals from the National Park. Control introduced plant and animal pests. Investigate and implement management programs to rehabilitate and expand native vegetation.
| 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 |
Additional information
References: Bell, B.D. (1990) The Status and Management of the White-breasted White-eye and Other Birds on Norfolk Island. Canberra: Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service. Christian, M. (2005) Norfolk Island...the birds. Green Eyes Publications. Commonwealth of Australia (2008) Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden Plans of Management 2008-2018. Canberra: Environment Australia. DEWHA (2009a) Cyanoramphus cookii in Species Profile and Threats Database, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra. Downloaded from http://www.environment.gov.au/sprat in May 2009. DEWHA (2009b) Zosterops albogularis in Species Profile and Threats Database. Canberra: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Downloaded from http://www.environment.gov.au/sprat in May 2009. Garnett, S.T. and Crowley, G.M. (2000) The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000. Canberra: Environment Australia. Hermes, N. (1985) Birds of Norfolk Island. Norfolk Island: Wonderland Publications. Hermes, N., Evans, O. and Evans, B. (1986) Norfolk Island birds: a review 1985. Notornis 33: 141-149. Moore, J.L. (1985) Norfolk Island notes 1968 to 1984. Notornis 32: 311-318. Norfolk Island Parks and Forestry Service (2003) Nepean Island Reserve Plan of Management Part B. Norfolk Island: Norfolk Island Parks and Forestry Service. Norfolk Island Tourism (2005-2006) Downloaded from http://www.norfolkisland.com.au/ on 9 November 2007. Norman, J., Olsen, P. and Christidis, L. (1998) Molecular genetics confirms taxonomic affinities of the endangered Norfolk Island Boobook Owl Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata. Biological Conservation 86: 33-36. Olsen, P.D. (1996) Re-establishment of an endangered subspecies: the Norfolk Island Boobook Owl Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata. Bird Conservation International 6: 63-80. Robinson, D. (1988) Ecology and Management of the Scarlet Robin, White-breasted White-eye and Long-billed White-eye on Norfolk Island. Canberra: Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service. Robinson, D. (1997) An Evalutation of the Status of the Norfolk Island Robin Following Rat-control and Weed-control Works in the Norfolk Island National Park. Unpublished report. Canberra: Environment Australia. Rooke, I. (1986) Survey of the White-breasted White-eye and the Norfolk Island Boobook Owl on Norfolk Island, October-November 1985. RAOU Report 22. Melbourne: RAOU. Schodde, R., Fullagar, P., and Hermes, N. (1983) A Review of Norfolk Island Birds: Past and Present. Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service Special Publication 8. Tarburton, M.K. (1981) Seabirds nesting at Norfolk Island. Notornis 28: 209-211.
Contributors: Information was kindly supplied by Margaret Christian, Richard Holdaway, Penny Olsen and Ron Ward.