Cocos Island, Guam (32095)
Guam (to USA), Oceania
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Cocos Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: 13.2362, Longitude: 144.6488
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 7
Area of KBA (km2): 0.35002
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: Green sea turtles nest on Cocos extensively, and it retains a reasonably robust coconut crab population, as well as several rare terrestrial lizards no longer found on Guam. Virtually all the seabirds nesting around Guam are on Cocos Island. This comprises Common White Terns, Brown Noddies and Black Noddies. The numbers involved are only small, by global standards.
Delineation rationale: Whole island except for the resort?
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The west coast of the island is a day resort with a pool, volleyball court, cafe, ice cream parlor, restaurant and bar, and water sports equipment rentals. Visitors to the resort can snorkel, dive, kayak, dolphin watch, parasail, jet ski and bike. The east side is public land part of the Territorial Park System.
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Only in the future |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |