Uracus Marine


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2012 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):
Species Current IUCN Red List Category Season Year(s) Population estimate at site IBA criteria met
Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda LC breeding 1979-1988 200 breeding pairs A4ii
Brown Noddy Anous stolidus LC breeding 1979-1988 6,000 breeding pairs A4i
Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus LC breeding 1979-1988 95,000 breeding pairs A4i

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2012).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2012 favourable medium low
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat poor

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Habitat detail Reference area (ha) Actual area (ha) Habitat quantity (% remaining) Habitat quality (carrying capacity) Result
Sea 0 0 good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Climate change and severe weather habitat shifting and alteration likely in long term (beyond 4 years) some of area/population (10-49%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Pollution garbage & solid waste happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation Management planning Other conservation action Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation No management planning has taken place Very little or no conservation action taking place low
For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

IBA Protection

Protected area (PA) PA designation PA area (ha) Relationship of PA with IBA Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Uracas Island Preserve 209 protected area overlaps with site 0
Maug Island Preserve 211 protected area overlaps with site 0
Marianas Trench Marine National Monument Marine National Monument 24,660,830 protected area contains site 1,585,558
Marianas Trench Marine National Monument 77,705 protected area overlaps with site 0
Marianas Trench Marine National Monument 24,851,700 protected area contains site 0
Mariana Arc Of Fire National Wildlife Refuge 22,257 protected area overlaps with site 0

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Marine Neritic -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Uracus Marine. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/uracus-marine-iba-northern-mariana-islands-(to-usa) on 30/09/2023.