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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2008 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
Micronesian Scrubfowl Megapodius laperouse	NT	resident (2005)	present	A1, A2
Palau Ground Dove Pampusana canifrons	EN	resident (2005)	present	A2
Micronesian Imperial-pigeon Ducula oceanica	VU	resident (2005)	present	A2
Palau Fruit-dove Ptilinopus pelewensis	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Palau Swiftlet Aerodramus pelewensis	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Palau Kingfisher Todiramphus pelewensis	NT	resident (2005)	present	A2
Micronesian Myzomela Myzomela rubratra	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Morningbird Pachycephala tenebrosa	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Palau Fantail Rhipidura lepida	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Palau Flycatcher Myiagra erythrops	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Palau Bush-warbler Horornis annae	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Giant White-eye Megazosterops palauensis	NT	resident (2005)	present	A2
Dusky White-eye Zosterops finschii	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Citrine White-eye Zosterops semperi	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Micronesian Starling Aplonis opaca	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2008. The most recent assessment (2018) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Forest	-	good (>90%)	good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A compre­hensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not compre­hensive and are limited by resources and capacity	high

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1956	Ngerukewid Islands	Wildlife Preserve (V)	1
1976	Ngerumekoal	Spawning Area (V)	1
1999	Ngkisaol Sardines	Sanctuary (V)	<1
2012	Rock Islands Southern Lagoon	World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) (UA)	100

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	major (>10)	Lowland evergreen rain forest (tropical); Beach and atoll forest

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	major (>10)
tourism/recreation	major (>10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rock Islands (Palau). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rock-islands-iba-palau on 23/12/2024.