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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2008 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Micronesian Scrubfowl Megapodius laperouse	NT	resident (2005)	present	A1, A2
Palau Ground Dove Pampusana canifrons	EN	resident (2005)	present	A2
Micronesian Imperial-pigeon Ducula oceanica	VU	resident (2005)	present	A2
Palau Fruit-dove Ptilinopus pelewensis	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Palau Swiftlet Aerodramus pelewensis	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Palau Owl Pyrroglaux podargina	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Palau Kingfisher Todiramphus pelewensis	NT	resident (2005)	present	A2
Micronesian Myzomela Myzomela rubratra	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Morningbird Pachycephala tenebrosa	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Palau Fantail Rhipidura lepida	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Palau Flycatcher Myiagra erythrops	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Palau Bush-warbler Horornis annae	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Dusky White-eye Zosterops finschii	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Citrine White-eye Zosterops semperi	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2
Micronesian Starling Aplonis opaca	LC	resident (2005)	present	A2

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2008. The most recent assessment (2018) is shown below.

State (condition of the key species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Forest	-	good (>90%)	favourable

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	happen­ing now	few individ­uals/small area (<10%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Natural system modifications	happen­ing now	few individ­uals/small area (<10%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Some of site covered (10–49%)	A manage­ment plan exists, but it is out of date or not compre­hensive	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Ngerchelchuus	Conservation Area (V)	-

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	major (>10)	Lowland forest - mixed swamp

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	minor (<10)
agriculture	minor (<10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Western Ridge, Babeldaob (Palau). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/western-ridge-babeldaob-iba-palau on 21/01/2025.