Current view: Text account
Site description (2010 baseline):
Site location and context
This site comprises the mountain chain running down the western side of Espiritu Santo. It encompasses the five highest mountain peaks in the country, Mt Tabwemasana, Mt Kotamtam, Mt Tawaloala, Mt Santo and Mt Lolohoe.
Both the endangered Sant Cruz Ground Dove and the Vulnerable Santo Starling have been reported at this site, but rarely, in the last 40 years. Both the vulnerable Palm Lorikeet and Vanuatu Imperial-pigeon are present in good numbers inthe mountain range, and are more common above 500m - hence the lower altitudinal limit.
Montane forest begins at 500m elevation and grades rapidly into stunted cloud forest on or near the summits. Cloud caps prevail throughout most of the year in all summit areas. The cloud forest is characterised by stunted trees with gnarled crowns, by trunks and branches covered by bryophytes and filmy ferns, and by an accumulation of peaty organic overlying strongly leached acid and often waterlogged soils. The predominant tree genera comprise Metrosideros, as well as Elaeocarpus, Macaranga, Ficus and Blancops.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
There has been movement of villages away from the site and down to the coastal areas - so disturbance has declined in the last 30-40 years. The presence of invasive species is not known, but is potentially a threat, particularly for the ground-dove.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Much of the mountain range remains little or unexplored.
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.
