Data Zone
Country/territory: Vanuatu
IBA Criteria met: A1, A2, A4ii (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria please click here
Area: 3,441 ha
Protection status:
| Most recent IBA monitoring assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | Threat score (pressure) | Condition score (state) | Action score (response) |
| 2016 | high | not assessed | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring please click here | |||
Site description
Tongoa is one of the Shepherd Islands off the Southeast coast of Epi. It is of recent volcanic origin, but has no currently active volcano. The site is centred around the village of Kurumabe, where there is an an active geothermal area that is used by Vanuatu Scrubfowl. Laika is a small island rising to c40m asl, to the north of Tongoa that is owned, and harvested by the people from Kurumabe village
Key biodiversity
North Tongoa is known for its population of Royal Parrotfinch, and as a high density Vanuatu Scrubfowl egg-laying colony. Laika is a large Wedge-tailed Shearwater colony. In addition small numbers of the pale Vanuatu Flying Fox roost on north Tongoa.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2021) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Tongoa - Laika. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 27/01/2021.
