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The site was identified as important in 2010 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 List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Vanuatu Scrubfowl Megapodius layardi	LC	resident	2010	uncommon	A2
Santa Cruz Ground Dove Pampusana sanctaecrucis	EN	resident	2010	rare	A1, A2
Vanuatu Imperial-pigeon Ducula bakeri	LC	resident	2010	common	A1, A2
Tanna Fruit-dove Ptilinopus tannensis	LC	resident	2010	uncommon	A2
Red-bellied Fruit-dove Ptilinopus greyi	LC	resident	2010	common	A2
Vanuatu Kingfisher Todiramphus farquhari	NT	resident	2010	uncommon	A2
Palm Lorikeet Charmosyna palmarum	VU	resident	2010	common	A1, A2
Cardinal Myzomela Myzomela cardinalis	LC	resident	2010	abundant	A2
Vanuatu Honeyeater Gliciphila notabilis	LC	resident	2010	abundant	A2
Fan-tailed Gerygone Gerygone flavolateralis	LC	resident	2010	common	A2
South Melanesian Cuckooshrike Coracina caledonica	LC	resident	2010	uncommon	A2
Vanuatu Streaked Fantail Rhipidura spilodera	LC	resident	2010	common	A2
Melanesian Flycatcher Myiagra caledonica	LC	resident	-	frequent	A2
Buff-bellied Monarch Neolalage banksiana	LC	resident	2010	common	A2
Southern Shrikebill Clytorhynchus pachycephaloides	LC	resident	2010	uncommon	A2
Santo Thicketbird Cincloramphus whitneyi	LC	resident	2010	common	A1, A2
Vanuatu White-eye Zosterops flavifrons	LC	resident	2010	abundant	A2
Rusty-winged Starling Aplonis zelandica	LC	resident	2010	rare	A1, A2
Mountain Starling Aplonis santovestris	EN	resident	2010	frequent	A1, A2

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2010) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2010. The most recent assessment (2021) is shown below.

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

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 area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Climate change and severe weather	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Some of site covered (10-49%)	A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
-	Western Peninsular	Forest Conservation Area	1

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Forest	Rainforest & vine thickets	95

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Santo Mountain Chain (Vanuatu). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/santo-mountain-chain-iba-vanuatu on 22/11/2024.