Current view: Text account
Site description (2010 baseline):
Site location and context
The site is an extinct volcano of nearly circular outline, about 32 km across, and almost perfectly symmetrical in relief. The proposed boundaries of this site follow an area agreed between AMNH, Kolombangara Forest Products Limited and landowning communities in the area. It covers the central caldera, high ridgelines of Mounts Rano and Veve, and several forest corridors down into the lowlands.
The sole location for two endemics, Zosterops murphyi and Phylloscopus amoenus. Also 3 endemic subspecies of Turdus poliocephalus, Phlloscopus poliocephalus and Petroica multicolor. Evidence of daily commuting of montane birds between large, flowering lowland forest trees and high elevation roosts. Also Puffinus heinrothi and Pseudobulweria becki have been recorded in recent years offshore. Its quite possible that the former, at least, breeds in the high elevation forests of Kolombangara.
Non-bird biodiversity: At least 3 bats (Emballanura raffrayana, Hipposideres dinops, Melonycteris fardoulis), one frog (Discodeles malukuna) and one skink (Tribolonotus ponceleti) have been identified as globally threatened on the IUCN red list. Recent surveys recorded 5 species of frog in the cloud forest, at least one of which is thought to be new to science.
From patches of lowland rainforest to a uniform spread of cloud forest in the montane part of the proposed area.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Logging has reduced the area of lowland forest on the island substantially in the last 50 years.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Liaison between AMNH (Chris Filardi), Kolombangara Forest Products Limited and landholding communities around the island have maintained a de facto reserve in this area for a number of years.The main watershed empties into the Vonavona Lagoon which is adjacent to several proposed MPAs under development by WWF Solomons.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kolombangara Upland Forest (Solomon Islands). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kolombangara-upland-forest-iba-solomon-islands on 22/11/2024.
