Current view: Text account
Site description (2007 baseline):
Site location and context
Described as “steep mountains and hills covered in rather stunted ultra basic forests, disturbed in the lower parts but quite well formed on the summits” (FAO/UNDP (1982). This area was considered one of the three highest priorities for conservation of biodiversity in Timor-Leste by FAO/UNDP (1982), and with high socio-economic value such as watershed maintenance. Known in Indonesian as ‘Hutan Querelau Lauberio’ (RTK 11) (Ora 2000). The habitat is described as semi-evergreen monsoon forest, locally heavily degraded and now mostly confined to the upper ridges, with grazed Eucalyptus woodland elsewhere on the ridges (Mauro 2003).
Fourteen restricted-range species have been recorded in this IBA, including the Endangered Timor Imperial-pigeon and Timor Green-pigeon, and the Critically Endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo also occurs there (Mauro 2003).
Described as “steep mountains and hills covered in rather stunted ultra basic forests, disturbed in the lower parts but quite well formed on the summits” (FAO/UNDP (1982). This area was considered one of the three highest priorities for conservation of biodiversity in Timor-Leste by FAO/UNDP (1982), and with high socio-economic value such as watershed maintenance. Known in Indonesian as ‘Hutan Querelau Lauberio’ (RTK 11) (Ora 2000). The habitat is described as semi-evergreen monsoon forest, locally heavily degraded and now mostly confined to the upper ridges, with grazed Eucalyptus woodland elsewhere on the ridges (Mauro 2003).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Ora (2000) listed illegal timber cutting and forest conversion for agricultural plots including coffee plantations as threats to this IBA.
Proposed as a Nature Reserve by FAO/UNDP (1982). According to Ora (2000), the entire site was subsequently gazetted as a Nature Reserve (SK Menhut No. 663/Kpts-II/1996), and the Indonesian Forestry department also recommended that this site be a National Park, a proposal which was supported by the then Governor of East Timor. The summit and surrounding forests were recognised by UNTAET (2000) as a Protected Wild Area under Regulation Number 2000/19.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Monte Diatuto (Timor-Leste). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/monte-diatuto-iba-timor-leste on 22/11/2024.
