WS005
Apia Catchments


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
Tooth-billed Pigeon Didunculus strigirostris CR resident 2010 < 50 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
Mao Gymnomyza samoensis EN resident 2010 < 50 A1, 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 Triller Lalage sharpei NT resident - present A1, 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 low
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
Climate change and severe weather likely in long term (beyond 4 years) majority/most of area/population (50-90%) moderate to rapid deterioration medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Residential and commercial development happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) moderate to rapid deterioration low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas Management plan Other action Result
Some of site covered (10-49%) No management plan exists but the management planning process has begun Very little or no conservation action taking place low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation % overlap with IBA
1958 Mt Vaea Botanical Reserve Nature Reserve 1
1978 Tusitala Historic Nature Reserve -
2003 Lake Lanoto'o National Park 31
2004 Lake Lanoto'o Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Apia Catchments (Samoa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/apia-catchments-iba-samoa on 25/11/2024.