Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
The Huvalu and Environs IBA comprises 5.4km2 of the terrestrial land area of Niue, and is centred on the Huvalu Conservation Area.
Niue is an EBA secondary area, noted for 4 restricted range species, Purple-capped fruit dove, Polynesian Triller, Polynesian Starling and Blue-crowned Lorikeet. The first three of these are common across Niue in the wooded part of the island, while the Lorikeet is rather morer scarce - but reported most frequently on or around the Huvalu Conservation Area.
The Huvalu Conservation Area, and Environs, primaily encompasses the mature and secondary forests, but also extend to other natural vegetation vegetation types. The mature forest has a high, closed canopy dominated by Sysgium richii and S. inophylloides with Dysoxylum forsteri, Planchonella torricellensis, Pometia pinnata and Macaranga seemanii. A range of climbers, other trees and ferns form the understorey and ground layers. Secondary forest lacks the upper canopy layer of the mature forest and is dominated by a wide range of pioneer species such as Hibiscus tiliaceous and Baccaurea seemanii.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Hunting, in particular for Pacific Imperial-Pigeon and Tongan Flying Fox, is thought to be reducing populations of these species substantially. There is little evidence, however, that this is impacting on the priority species of the IBA. Both black rats and pacific rats are present on the island, with black rats common in the forested areas. The extent to which these have impacted on the bird populations, and in particular reduced the lorikeet population to current levels, is unclear.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Surveys on the site have been undertaken in several months in 1994/95 and again, to monitor the impact of cyclone Heta, in September 2004. The extent to which the cyclone, invasion by rats or hunting on the island has had an impact on the birds is considered in the second report.
The Huvalu Conservation Area was established in 1992 by the Environment Unit in consultation with the villages of Liku and Hadapu.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Huvalu and environs (Niue (to New Zealand)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/huvalu-and-environs-iba-niue-(to-new-zealand) on 09/01/2025.
