D'Arros Island and Saint Joseph Atoll (6792)
Seychelles, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2014

National site name: Ile D'Arros et Atoll Saint-Joseph

Central coordinates: Latitude: -5.4300, Longitude: 53.3370

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 1

Area of KBA (km²): 24.38651

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The site is an oval-shaped, flat, low-lying coral island situated c.250 km west-south-west of Mahé in the Amirantes group. The vegetation is dominated by coconut-palms and Casuarina equisetifolia. It is privately owned, with one large house for use of guests, who rent the island, and a collection of smaller, permanently occupied houses for the island’s staff. A small area of the island is cultivated. The island is bisected by an airstrip. There are no regular flights but, occasionally, scheduled flights to nearby Desroches divert to D’Arros.

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) KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands Hotspot (2014). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat status follow the 2013 IUCN Red List.

Additional biodiversity: See Box and Table 2 for key species. Five Foudia sechellarum from Cousin were introduced in 1965 by an expedition from Bristol University, UK. The birds have become established and now c.100 pairs occur alongside introduced Foudia madagascariensis, Passer domesticus and Geopelia striata, as well as rats and feral cats. One other landbird occurs, Streptopelia picturata (origin unknown) . Non-bird biodiversity: The turtles Chelonia mydas (EN) and Eretmochelys imbricata (CR) nest and may be taken by poachers, though the current management is sympathetic to their conservation.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | not utilised | tourism/recreation

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: No conservation measures have been taken. Eradication of introduced cats and rats would increase the potential of the island for birds.

Additional information