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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)	97 birds	A1, A2, A4i
Hawaiian Hawk Buteo solitarius	NT	breeding (1999)	present	A2
Hawaii Elepaio Chasiempis sandwichensis	NT	resident (1978)	62,782 birds	A1, A2
Hawaiian Crow Corvus hawaiiensis	EW	resident (2002)	2 birds	A1, A2
Hawaii Creeper Manucerthia mana	EN	breeding (2007)	4 birds	A1, A2
Hawaii Akepa Loxops coccineus	EN	breeding (2007)	6 birds	A1, A2
Hawaii Amakihi Chlorodrepanis virens	LC	resident (1978)	348,879 birds	A2
Iiwi Drepanis coccinea	VU	resident (1978)	52,008 birds	A1, A2
Apapane Himatione sanguinea	LC	resident (1978)	225,338 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
Most of area (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	A compre­hensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest	Bird Sanctuary (V)	2
-	Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a 1	Sanctuary (V)	<1
-	Kona Forest National Wildlife Refuge	National Wildlife Refuge (-)	100
-	Hakalau Forest	National Wildlife Refuge (IV)	24
1983	Manuka	Natural Area Reserve (V)	16
1983	Kipahoehoe	Natural Area Reserve (V)	4

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	major (>10)
agriculture	minor (<10)
forestry	minor (<10)

Lands comprising the Kona Forests Important Bird Area are owned by several different government agencies and private groups. The State of Hawai`i owns the largest proportion of the IBA overall (59%). Land parcels within the IBA include the Kona Forest National Wildlife Refuge (3%), Pu`u Wa`a Wa`a State Forest Bird Sanctuary (2%), Manuka and Kipahoehoe State Natural Area Reserves (19%), Pu`u Wa`a Wa`a, South Kona, Honualoa, and Waiaha Springs State Forest Reserves (36%), unencumbered State lands (2%), The Nature Conservancy's Kona Hema Preserve (5%), and numerous large and small private parcels (33%). Private lands are owned by Kamehameha Schools, Yee Hop Ranch, E. Stack. T. Atwood, S. Rolles Trust, One Keahole, and several other smaller landowners.

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