Kakadu Savanna (24819)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1e, B1
Year of last assessment: 2018
National site name: Kakadu Savanna
Central coordinates: Latitude: -12.8918, Longitude: 132.4192
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 330
Area of KBA (km2): 10860.40122
Protected area coverage (%): 99.86
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The savanna woodlands of Kakadu National Park extend from the coastal floodplains in the north to the southern hills 150 km to the south, and from the Arnhem Land sandstone plateau in the east, 120 km to its western boundary. The IBA excludes the sub-coastal riverine floodplains of the Alligator Rivers IBA and the sandstone country of the Arnhem Land Plateau IBA, which are partially in the Kakadu National Park. The residential and mining areas of Jabiru and Ranger are outside the National Park and are excluded. The western and southern IBA boundary follows that of the National Park as management of fire, weeds and ferals is better in the park than in adjacent unprotected land which is consequently assumed to support lower densities of the key bird species. Most of the IBA is on flat coastal plains, rising to low stony hillsides in the south. The area experiences a monsoonal climate with heavy rains from November to March.
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: The endangered Gouldian Finch is rare in southern Kakadu with an estimated population of 50-150 birds (O'Malley 2006). Small numbers of the restricted-range Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon and White-lined Honeyeater occur on sandstone outliers but numbers are insignificant when compared to populations in the adjacent Arnhem Plateau IBA. Other notable species which have been recorded in the IBA include the near threatened Australian Bustard, Bush Stone-curlew and Star Finch (Atlas of Australian Birds database). Non-bird biodiversity: About 60 species of mammal (including marsupial and placental species) and 117 species of reptiles have been recorded in the National Park (Kakadu National Park website).
Other site values: Leased by the Traditional Owners to Parks Australia and jointly managed. National Park regulations extend across the IBA.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Savanna | 90 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 | |
| Forest | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The current Kakadu National Park Plan of Management should include specific actions for the threatened species and declining restricted-range species. The impacts of frequency and timing of fires must be better researched and management adjusted accordingly (see e.g. Fraser et al. 2003).
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Kakadu National Park website (accessed March 2007) http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu/index.html Fraser, F., Lawson, V., Morrison, S., Christopherson, P., Sandra, M. and Rawlinson, M. 2003. Fire management experiment for the declining Partridge Pigeon, Kakadu National Park. Environmental Management & Restoration 4: 94-102. Garnett, S. (1992) Threatened and extinct birds of Australia. RAOU Report 82. Melbourne: RAOU. Watson M. and Woinarski J. (2003) Vertebrate monitoring and resampling in Kakadu National Park, 2002. Report to Parks Australia North. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory: Darwin. Garnett, S.T. and Crowley, G. (2000) The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000. Canberra: Environment Australia. O’Malley, C. (2006) National Recovery Plan for the Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae). WWF-Australia, Sydney and Parks and Wildlife NT, Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, NT Government, Palmerston. Woinarski, J.C.Z., Press, A.J. and Russell-Smith, J. (1989) The bird community of a sandstone plateau monsoon forest at Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory. Emu 89: 223-231.