The Lakes (Western Australia) (26721)
Australia, Australasia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c

Year of last assessment: 2009

National site name: The Lakes (Western Australia)

Central coordinates: Latitude: -31.8992, Longitude: 116.4388

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 250 to 340

Area of KBA (km²): 73.74385

Protected area coverage (%): 24.05

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Lakes (Western Australia) IBA supports at least 1% of the non-breeding population of the endangered Baudin's Black-Cockatoo and smaller numbers of the endangered Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo. The IBA boundaries are defined by native vegetation within a 6 km foraging radius of non-breeding season roost sites for Baudin’s Black-Cockatoo in the outer Darling Range in south-west Western Australia. Foraging distance has been determined by research undertaken by the WA Museum (T. Kirkby, Western Australian Museum, pers. comm. 2009). The IBA consists of all native vegetation greater than 1 ha on private land, water catchment areas, state forests, nature reserves and other reserves. Pasture, crops, non-native plants, weed species and orchards are excluded from the IBA. The one-hectare minimum native vegetation criterion has been determined by experts in a consultation process undertaken by the Australian Government (C. Gole pers. comm. 2009). The area has a Mediterranean climate.

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 biome-restricted species Western Rosella has been recorded once during periodic monitoring surveys of this IBA (T. Kirkby, Western Australian Museum, pers. comm. 2009). Non-bird biodiversity: This large IBA is likely to contain a number of other threatened flora and fauna. Details of these are available from the Department of Environment and Conservation, Threatened Species and Communities Branch.

Other site values: Privately owned farms; state forest and nature reserves (Department of Environment and Conservation). Access to private land and areas with restricted access must be arranged with individual land-holders.

Habitats

Land use: forestry | nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	50
Artificial - Terrestrial	50

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Control of feral European Honeybee (DEC 2008).

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Named species	Ongoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Problematic native species/diseases	Named species	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Persecution/control	Ongoing

Additional information

References: Department of Environment and Conservation (2008) Forest Black Cockatoo (Baudin's Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus baudinii and Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii naso) Recovery Plan. Perth: Department of Environment and Conservation. Johnstone, R.E., Johnstone, C. and Kirkby, T. (2008) The distribution, status, social organisation, movements and conservation of Baudin's Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus baudinii in the south-west of Western Australia. Unpublished report. Perth: Western Australian Museum.