• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

The site was identified as important in 2006 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
Shy Ground Dove Pampusana stairi	LC	resident	2005	uncommon	A1, A2
Barking Imperial-pigeon Ducula latrans	LC	resident	2005	common	A2
Golden Dove Chrysoena luteovirens	LC	resident	2005	common	A2
Many-coloured Fruit-dove Ptilinopus perousii	LC	resident	2005	rare	A2
Fiji Goshawk Accipiter rufitorques	LC	resident	2005	rare	A2
Masked Shining-parrot Prosopeia personata	NT	resident	2005	common	A1, A2
Collared Lory Phigys solitarius	LC	resident	2005	frequent	A2
Giant Honeyeater Gymnomyza brunneirostris	LC	resident	2005	abundant	A2
Kikau Foulehaio procerior	LC	resident	2005	common	A2
Sulphur-breasted Myzomela Myzomela jugularis	LC	resident	2005	common	A2
Polynesian Triller Lalage maculosa	LC	resident	2005	common	A2
Fiji Woodswallow Artamus mentalis	LC	resident	2005	uncommon	A2
Fiji Streaked Fantail Rhipidura layardi	LC	resident	2005	common	A2
Vanikoro Flycatcher Myiagra vanikorensis	LC	resident	2005	frequent	A2
Chestnut-throated Flycatcher Myiagra castaneigularis	LC	resident	2005	common	A2
Slaty Monarch Mayrornis lessoni	LC	resident	2005	common	A2
Fiji Shrikebill Clytorhynchus vitiensis	LC	resident	2005	frequent	A2
Black-throated Shrikebill Clytorhynchus nigrogularis	NT	resident	2005	uncommon	A1, A2
Long-legged Thicketbird Cincloramphus rufus	EN	resident	2005	3 individuals	A1, A2
Fiji Bush-warbler Horornis ruficapilla	LC	resident	2005	abundant	A2
Fiji White-eye Zosterops explorator	LC	resident	2005	abundant	A2
Polynesian Starling Aplonis tabuensis	LC	resident	2005	frequent	A2
Fiji Parrotfinch Erythrura pealii	LC	resident	2005	frequent	A2
Pink-billed Parrotfinch Erythrura kleinschmidti	VU	resident	2005	< 50 adults	A1, A2

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2006) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2006. The most recent assessment (2018) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Forest	-	moderate (70-90%)	near favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Energy production and mining	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Biological resource use	past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	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
-	Sovi Basin	National Park	47
-	Sovi Basin Conservation Area	Other Area	48
2006	Sovi Basin Protected Area	Conservation Reserve	58

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Forest	Lowland evergreen rain forest (tropical)	-

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	-
forestry	-

Sovi Basin is under traditional ownership of 13 mataqali, belonging to the three Tikina; Waimaro (97%), Nadaravakawalu and Namosi. As well as these Native Lands, there are eight small Crown Lands (totalling about 1,306 ha) and two Freehold Lands (80 ha). The basin was inhabited a few generations ago but abandoned because of poor soils and accessibility into the basin. Sovi is only 35 km from the capital, Suva.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sovi Basin (Fiji). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sovi-basin-iba-fiji on 22/11/2024.