Northeast Islets, Majuro Atoll (24514)
Marshall Islands, Oceania
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Northeast Islets, Majuro Atoll
Central coordinates: Latitude: 7.0667, Longitude: 171.2667
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 51.6507
Protected area coverage (%): 3.36
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA includes the islets in the Northeast corner of Majuro atoll, from Calalen to Denmeo. These inhabited islets are home to the Micronesian Pigeon ratakensis subspecies. This islets are in Majuro atoll, which is the capital of the Marshall Islands and is densely populated. The proposed IBA includes islets that are relatively sparsely populated and retain forest habitat. The Pigeon is currently found on private land but may have spread to other areas.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
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 100 ha (non-GIS) to 5165 ha (GIS). 15/10/2013 (OB): site only a small subset of the atoll - so area doesn't exceed (and is probably well short of) 377 ha.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Hunting, clearing, and invasive species pose a great threat. The extremely small size of the remaining population and possible mixing with the Ralik subspecies also pose a genetic threat.