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

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2009 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 List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Hawaiian Goose Branta sandvicensis	NT	breeding (2007)	200 birds	A1, A2, A4i
Hawaiian Hawk Buteo solitarius	NT	breeding (1999)	frequent	A1, A2
Hawaii Elepaio Chasiempis sandwichensis	NT	resident (2000)	138,900 birds	A1, A2
Omao Myadestes obscurus	NT	breeding (2000)	57,500 birds	A1, A2
Akiapolaau Hemignathus wilsoni	EN	breeding (2000)	1,600 birds	A1, A2
Hawaii Creeper Manucerthia mana	EN	resident (2000)	17,800 birds	A1, A2
Hawaii Akepa Loxops coccineus	EN	breeding (2000)	8,300 birds	A1, A2
Hawaii Amakihi Chlorodrepanis virens	LC	resident (2000)	200,800 birds	A2
Iiwi Drepanis coccinea	VU	breeding (2000)	285,400 birds	A1, A2
Apapane Himatione sanguinea	LC	resident (2000)	255,900 birds	A2

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2012) is shown below.

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Some of area covered (10–49%)	A compre­hensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not compre­hensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Hakalau Forest	National Wildlife Refuge (IV)	30
1983	Laupahoehoe	Natural Area Reserve (V)	6
1983	Laupahoehoe	State Natural Area Reserve (IV)	6

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	major (>10)

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	major (>10)

Lands comprising the Hamakua Forest Important Bird Area are owned by the Federal Government, the State of Hawai`i, and several different private landowners. Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge is owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Laupahoehoe Natural Area Reserve and the Hamakua, Hilo, Hilo Watershed, and Manowaiale`e Forest Reserves are owned by the State of Hawai`i. Private landowners include Kamehameha Schools, Queen Liliuokalani Trust, and Parker Ranch. Despite their misleading names, two private parcels owned by Hawaii Forest Preservation and the Ohana Sanctuary are in reality associated with the logging company Koa Timber Inc.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hamakua Forests (USA). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hamakua-forests-iba-usa on 23/12/2024.