WS001
Aleipata Marine Protected Area


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2010 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List1 Season Year(s) Size IBA criteria
Shy Ground Dove Pampusana stairi LC resident 2010 50-249 individuals A1, A2
Tooth-billed Pigeon Didunculus strigirostris CR resident - present A1, A2
Many-coloured Fruit-dove Ptilinopus perousii LC resident - present A2
Samoan Fruit-dove Ptilinopus fasciatus LC resident - present A2
Flat-billed Kingfisher Todiramphus recurvirostris LC resident - present A2
Blue-crowned Lorikeet Vini australis LC resident - present A2
Polynesian Wattled Honeyeater Foulehaio carunculatus LC resident - present A2
Cardinal Myzomela Myzomela cardinalis LC resident - present A2
Samoan Whistler Pachycephala flavifrons LC resident - present A2
Polynesian Triller Lalage maculosa LC resident - present A2
Samoan Fantail Rhipidura nebulosa LC resident - present A2
Samoan Flycatcher Myiagra albiventris LC resident - present A1, A2
Polynesian Starling Aplonis tabuensis LC resident - present A2
Samoan Starling Aplonis atrifusca LC resident - present A2
Red-headed Parrotfinch Erythrura cyaneovirens LC resident - present A2

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2010) may differ.


IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2010. The most recent assessment (2010) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2010 not assessed medium medium
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
no unset poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes likely in long term (beyond 4 years) whole area/population (>90%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Climate change and severe weather likely in long term (beyond 4 years) majority/most of area/population (50-90%) moderate to rapid deterioration medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas Management plan Other action Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation No management plan exists but the management planning process has begun Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity medium

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation % overlap with IBA
- Nu'utele Islands Other Area 4
1999 Aleipata Marine Protected Area Project 100


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Aleipata Marine Protected Area (Samoa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/aleipata-marine-protected-area-iba-samoa on 22/11/2024.