South Barnard Islands


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2009 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
Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus LC resident (1987–1998) 3,000–10,000 pairs A4i
Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis LC resident (1985–1986) 850–1,000 pairs A4i

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2019) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2019 moderate medium medium
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat -

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Quantity (% remaining) Quality (% carrying capacity) Result
Forest good (>90%) moderate (70–90%) moderate

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Climate change and severe weather likely in long term (>4 years) most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) 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90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not compre­hensive Some limited conservation initiatives are in place medium

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1981 Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) (UA) 100
1998 Barnard Island Group National Park (II) 100
2004 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (II) 96
2004 Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park (II) 88

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Forest major (>10) Mangroves; Rainforest & vine thickets
Marine Coastal/Supratidal minor (<10)
Marine Intertidal minor (<10)

Land use

Land use % of IBA
nature conservation and research 100

Land ownership
Australian Federal Government with management the responsibility of GBRMPA.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: South Barnard Islands (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/south-barnard-islands-iba-australia on 23/12/2024.