ST001
São Tomé lowland forests


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2001 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
Sao Tome Olive-pigeon Columba thomensis EN resident 1999 present A1, A2
Sao Tome Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba malherbii NT resident 1999 present A2
Sao Tome Green-pigeon Treron sanctithomae EN resident 1999 present A2
Sao Tome Spinetail Zoonavena thomensis LC resident 1999 present A2
Dwarf Ibis Bostrychia bocagei CR resident 1999 present A1, A2
Sao Tome Scops-owl Otus hartlaubi VU resident 1999 present A1, A2
Sao Tome Kingfisher Corythornis thomensis LC resident 1999 present A2
Sao Tome Oriole Oriolus crassirostris VU resident 1999 present A1, A2
Sao Tome Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone atrochalybeia LC resident 1999 present A2
Newton's Fiscal Lanius newtoni CR resident 1999 present A1, A2
Sao Tome Prinia Prinia molleri LC resident 1999 present A2
Black-capped Speirops Zosterops lugubris LC resident 1999 present A2
Sao Tome White-eye Zosterops feae NT resident 1999 present A1, A2
Sao Tome Thrush Turdus olivaceofuscus LC resident 1999 present A1, A2
Newton's Sunbird Anabathmis newtonii LC resident 1999 present A2
Giant Sunbird Dreptes thomensis VU resident 1999 present A1, A2
Giant Weaver Ploceus grandis NT resident 1999 present A2
Sao Tome Weaver Ploceus sanctithomae LC resident 1999 present A2
Sao Tome Shorttail Amaurocichla bocagii VU resident 1999 present A1, A2
Principe Seedeater Crithagra rufobrunnea LC resident 1999 present A2
Sao Tome Grosbeak Crithagra concolor CR resident 1999 present A1, A2

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2001) may differ.


IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2001. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2013 not assessed high not assessed
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset unknown

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification happening now some of area/population (10-49%) very rapid to severe deterioration high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas Management plan Other action Result
Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed not assessed

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation % overlap with IBA
- Obô Natural Park Other 100
2006 Parque Natural Obô de São Tomé Natural Park 53

Land use

Land use % of IBA
hunting -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: São Tomé lowland forests (São Tomé e Príncipe). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/são-tomé-lowland-forests-iba-são-tomé-e-príncipe on 23/11/2024.