Uracus (24520)
Northern Mariana Islands (to USA), Oceania
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Uracus
Central coordinates: Latitude: 20.5403, Longitude: 144.8895
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 360
Area of KBA (km2): 2.08485
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Farallon de Pajaros is the northernmost island in the CNMI. The island is a steep volcanic cone, which has erupted several times in the last century. The island is largely bare exposed rock with little vegetation. The proposed IBA is uninhabited and protected by CNMI law as a Wildlife Conservation Area.
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 entire island of Uracus is proposed as an IBA because of its population of breeding seabirds. Uracus qualifies under both A4i criteria for its population of Sooty Terns and under A4iii for its total population. Micronesian Megapodes are also breeding on the island (Reichel and Glass, 1991).
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 200 ha to 276 ha.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Volcanic eruptions pose a possible threat. Rats are a threat.
| 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 |
| Geological events | Volcanoes | Only in the future |