Malaita Highlands (27491)
Solomon Islands, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Malaita Highlands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -8.8730, Longitude: 160.8960
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 1300
Area of KBA (km2): 583.78663
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: the site encompasses the highest peak of Malaita and the surrounding montane and lowland forest. There are few villages situated inside the proposed area. The boundary extends to include lowland forest adjacent to the Wairaha River, providing a complete transition from low altitude to extreme highland.
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. KBA identified by the 2012 CEPF East Melanesia Ecosystem Profile process. Taxonomy and threat status follow the 2011 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: A number of montane forest species endemic to Malaita have been recorded here including Rhipidura malaitae, Zosterops stresemanniand Myzomela malaitae. Other species likely to be dependent on high elevation forests include Ducula brenchleyi, Gymnophaps solomonensis, Columba vitiensis, Charmosyna meeki and C. margarethae.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Population growth Industrial scale logging.