Data Zone
Country/territory: Timor-Leste
IBA criteria met: A2 (2007)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 1,099 ha
Site description (2007 baseline)
Jaco (or ‘Jako’) is a small island (12 km2) dominated by tropical dry deciduous forest, coastal strand vegetation, beaches and rock platforms in the far east of Timor-Leste. Sandlund et al. (2001) recently observed: “Jaco Island is covered with well developed forest. There is a radio mast on the island, but we did get the impression that the forest on the island has not been exploited. The forest on the island may therefore be quite well preserved primary forest. Jaco Island is relatively flat, surrounded by sandy beaches except in the south where there are some low cliffs”.
Key biodiversity
Eight restricted-range species have been recorded in this IBA (Thompson et al. 1974, Trainor et al. 2004), but given its limited isolation (only 900 m from the mainland) it is anticipated that more of these species will be found there in the future.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Jaco Island (Timor-Leste). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/jaco-island-iba-timor-leste on 22/11/2024.