Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
The site consists of two mahogany
Khaya senegalensis trees of moderate height, standing together on private farmland in a valley bottom, near the village of Banana, in eastern-central Santiago. The area is intensively farmed; mainly maize, beans and sugar-cane.
See Box for key species. This is one of only two known breeding sites for the endemic
Ardea (
purpurea)
bournei (see site CV006). This colony was only discovered in 1991. In 1991–1993, there were c.20 nests but, due to their position in the crowns of the trees and the thick foliage, it was not possible to accurately determine the number occupied. In March 2000, eight adults and 10 juveniles were counted in the colony, and 13–15 nests were observed in December 2000.
Acrocephalus brevipennis breeds in the area.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
As with site CV006, the trees are privately owned. An agreement with the landowner is needed to ensure they are left undisturbed. Information leaflets about the trees and the herons have at times been distributed among the people in the area, and similar actions should be continued, particularly among schoolchildren. An information board, explaining the importance of the site, should be erected. In early 2000, villagers stated that they had caught about 10 herons for human consumption.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mahoganies at Banana, Ribeira Montanha, Ilha de Santiago (Cape Verde). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mahoganies-at-banana-ribeira-montanha-ilha-de-santiago-iba-cape-verde on 23/11/2024.
