Apia Catchments (27480)
Samoa, Oceania
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, B2
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Apia Catchments
Central coordinates: Latitude: -13.8930, Longitude: -171.7577
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 160 to 1120
Area of KBA (km2): 83.49947
Protected area coverage (%): 6.91
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site covers Vaisigano watershed, Leafe Watershed, and Fulusou Watershed, Lake Lanutoo National Park and Mt Vaea Reserve within the central highlands of Upolu.
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: Good numbers of Tooth-billed Pigeon and Mao have been recorded in some of the survey sites within the IBA, despite its proximity to Apia. Good densities of Samoan Flycatcher, Samoan Triller, Many-coloured Fruit-dove and Polynesian Starling have also beenrecorded on site, while the densities of Red-headed Parrotfinch were higher at this site than any of the other surveyed areas. Non-bird biodiversity: The land snail Thaumatodon hystricelloides has been recorded on the site, while there is a roost of over 800 bats, Pteropus spp.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The site consists of a mixture of lowland rainforest along the ridges of the watershed areas, secondary forest dominated by Albizia spp closer to settlements and disturbed montane forest in higher elevation. Although the site is predominantly secondary and disturbed forest, its importance as a watershed area for the capital provides some form of protection. Changes in the forest structure are as much the result of cyclones and seed dispersal nature of introduced plants such as Funtumia elastica and Albizia spp.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats to the area are from small scale land clearing for plantations, cyclones and human settlement pressures. Invasive plants may be having a negative impact although the evidence is currently lacking.
| 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 |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Small-holder plantations | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Only in the future | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing |