Millenium (Caroline) Island (27465)
Kiribati, Oceania
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Millenium (Caroline) Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -9.9598, Longitude: -150.2053
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 6
Area of KBA (km2): 172.82814
Protected area coverage (%): 0.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This large atoll consists of 39 islets, most of which are flat and densely vegetated.
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 island supports a substantial, mixed species, seabird colony with a high numbers of breeding sooty terns. in addition the island holds important numbers of bristle-thighed curlew during the northern winter. Non-bird biodiversity: There is a substantial population of coconut crabs, numbers estimates at 2,200 individuals. Small numbers of green turtles may use the island as a nesting area.
Supersedes another site: 31025
Delineation rationale: This boundary includes the original colony area with an additional 4km marine foraging buffer. These buffers were redefined and are now more appropriate for the trigger species (Great Frigatebird, Black Noddy, Common White Tern, Red-footed Booby, Red-tailed Tropicbird).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Most of the islets are densely vegetated with forests of Pisonia grandis, Cordia subcordata and Tournefortia argentea (Heliotrope). Other areas of the atoll have scrub-type vegetation.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There are large numbers of Pacific rat (Rattus exulans) on the island. The island is currently inhabited resulting in some damage around the habitations. Associated with this is the danger of increased numbers of alien species colonising the island together with an upsurge in the extent that poaching of birds and other fauna may occur.