Current view: Text account
Site description (2007 baseline):
Site location and context
A set of islets in the Northwest corner, including Nallu (Nallo, Alu), Garu, Bwokwanaelok, Alu, Autle, Bikoro, and Etwa for the proposed IBA. Nallu islet is inhabited with 200+ people. The atoll is recognized for its seabird rookeries, although the populations of the rookeries are not available.
The Northwest corner of Mili Atoll, (Figure 3), in the Ratik chain, was selected as an IBA because it is one of the only confirmed records of the Micronesian Pigeon, ratakensis subspecies. While not endemic at the species level, the bird is endemic at the subspecies level. The Pigeon is also listed on the IUCN Red List as Near Threatened.
Non-bird biodiversity: Baseline data on Nallu islet itself is lacking. The NBT (2000) lists the atoll as being home to Sonneratia mangrove wetlands. CI (2007) lists the atoll as a hotspot for its diverse and abundant marine resources, seabird rookeries (populations unknown), and freshwater resources. Mili atoll is listed as a Micronesia-Polynesia Hotspot (CI, 2007) for its reef communities
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The islet is inhabited, so overuse, hunting, clearing, and introduction of invasive species are threats. Sea temperature rise causing possible coral bleaching is a threat to the atoll.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mili Atoll (Marshall Islands). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mili-atoll-iba-marshall-islands on 26/12/2024.
