• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2006 baseline)
The Boven Subsector is a legally protected area comprising several xeric, rocky hills in the northwest peninsula of St. Eustatius, or Statia. Zeelandia beach is on the southeast end of the area, which harbors Tropicbird nesting areas in its sandy cliffs. The hills above the airport form the southern limit of the concentration of Tropicbird nesting.There are no settlements within Boven; however, an oil transfer station lies on the western border along the coast.

Key biodiversity
A significant population of Red-billed Tropicbirds, Phaethon aethereus, nests within the Boven Subsector, meeting the requirements of A4(i) for a biogeographic population within the Caribbean. An estimate of 100-200 breeding birds was made in 2003 based on field surveys which did not cover all of Boven.

Non-bird biodiversity: Species with restricted ranges include the Antillean Iguana Iguana delicatissima, the ground lizard Ameiva erythrocephala, two anolis lizards Anolis bimaculatus and A. wattsi, and two geckos Sphaerodactylus sputator and S. sabanus. There are five species of bats, the only native mammal, including Ardops nichollsi montserratensis which has a restricted range. Locations for the aforementioned species could not be referenced. The endemic Statia Morning Glory Ipomoea sphenophylla can be found within Boven.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Boven, Sint Eustatius (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (to Netherlands)). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/boven-sint-eustatius-iba-bonaire-sint-eustatius-and-saba-(to-netherlands) on 26/11/2024.