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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 (2003)	174 birds	A1, A2, A4i
Hawaiian Hawk Buteo solitarius	NT	breeding (1999)	50-249 birds	A1, A2
Hawaii Elepaio Chasiempis sandwichensis	NT	breeding (2003)	100,000-499,999 birds	A1, A2
Omao Myadestes obscurus	NT	breeding (2003)	50,000-99,999 birds	A1, A2
Akiapolaau Hemignathus wilsoni	EN	breeding (2003)	1,000-2,499 birds	A1, A2
Hawaii Creeper Manucerthia mana	EN	breeding (2003)	2,500-9,999 birds	A1, A2
Hawaii Akepa Loxops coccineus	EN	breeding (2003)	2,500-9,999 birds	A1, A2
Hawaii Amakihi Chlorodrepanis virens	LC	resident (2003)	100,000-499,999 birds	A2
Iiwi Drepanis coccinea	VU	breeding (2003)	100,000-499,999 birds	A1, A2
Apapane Himatione sanguinea	LC	resident (2003)	1,000,000-2,499,999 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 (2009) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happe­ning now	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

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)	No management plan exists, but the management planning process has begun	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not compre­hensive and are limited by resources and capacity	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Kipuka ‘ainahou Nene	Sanctuary (V)	9
-	Keahou Cooperative Nene	Sanctuary (V)	<1
-	Upper Waiakea Bog	Sanctuary (V)	<1
-	Kipuka Ainahou Nene	Wildlife Sanctuary (-)	14
1916	Hawai'i Volcanoes	National Park (II)	27
1916	Hawaii Volcanoes	National Park (II)	100
1974	Waiakea 1942 Lava Flow	Natural Area Reserve (V)	<1
1978	Hawaii Volcanoes	Wilderness (Ib)	10
1980	Hawaiian Islands	UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA)	-
1981	Puu Makaala	State Natural Area Reserve (IV)	4
1987	Hawaii Volcanoes National Park	World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) (UA)	25
1987	Kahauale‘a	Natural Area Reserve (V)	7
2010	Pu‘u Maka‘ala	Natural Area Reserve (V)	4

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

Lands comprising the Mauna Loa-Kilauea Forests Important Bird Area are owned by several different government agencies and private groups. The single largest parcel within the IBA is a portion of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, but the State of Hawai`i owns the largest proportion of the IBA overall. State lands include all or part of Pu`u Maka`ala, Kahaualea, and Waiakea 1942 Lava Flow Natural Area Reserves, Kipuka Ainahou Nene Sanctuary, Upper Waiakea Bog Sanctuary, Mauna Loa, Ola`a, Waiakea, Upper Waiakea, and Wao Kele O Puna Forest Reserves, Kulani Correctional Facility, and unencumbered lands between Kahaualea and the national park. Kamehameha Schools owns two parcels within the IBA, Keauhou Ranch and a smaller parcel leased to the Zoological Society of San Diego that contains the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mauna Loa-Kilauea Forests (USA). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mauna-loa-kilauea-forests-iba-usa on 23/12/2024.