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

Justification of Red List category
This species may have a moderately small population within its small range, and numbers are almost certainly declining owing to ongoing forest conversion and (to a lesser extent) localised hunting. However, the range is not yet severely fragmented or restricted to few locations, thus the species is classified as Near Threatened.

Population justification
The population size of this species has not been estimated. In their appraisal of lowland species on Buru, Marsden et al. (1997) did not discuss it, but Eaton et al. (2021) describe it as scarce. It reportedly goes unobserved even in areas where it is known to regularly occur (C. Robson in litt. 2016, 2020) and some recent visits have failed to observe the species entirely (e.g. Reeve et al. 2014). In its range, approximately 3,500 km² of forest remains (Global Forest Watch 2023) and speculatively (and somewhat precautionarily), the population is suspected to number 10,000-19,999 mature individuals, although this requires confirmation.

Trend justification
The principal threats to this species are habitat loss and degradation and (locally) hunting. In the three generations (13.2 years; Bird et al. 2020) to 2022, lowland forest cover on Buru declined by c.5-6% (Global Forest Watch 2023, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). This species is tolerant of edge habitat and degraded forest (Eaton et al. 2021) and therefore may not be declining directly in line with forest cover loss. Alternatively, rates of population decline may be slightly faster than forest cover loss alone, on the basis that the species may require a network of feeding sites that vary spatially and temporally. Moreover, any declines caused by habitat loss are likely to be compounded by hunting, although Buru has only a small human population (c.200,000 people) such that this impact is likely to be only local. Overall the species is suspected of declining at a rate of 5-15% over three generations, with no indication this will halt in the future.

Treron aromaticus is endemic to Buru, Indonesia.

It inhabits forest, forest edge, heavily logged remnant lowland forest and tall secondary growth from sea level to 300 m (Eaton et al. 2021), where it is found singly, in pairs or small groups (Coates and Bishop 1997, C. Robson in litt. 2016).

The primary threats are presumably habitat loss for agriculture and farming, as well as hunting pressure. Pigeons, doves and parrots may be hunted for food in large numbers and the species appears to have undergone recent declines (M. Halaouate in litt. 2013), with habitat loss potentially making the remaining population more susceptible to hunting pressure (C. Robson in litt. 2016, 2020).

Conservation and research actions underway
No targeted conservation actions are known for this species. However, agroforestry schemes with Indigenous Peoples (KPH = Kesatuan Pengelolaan Hutan) on Buru have shown some success (Iskar et al. 2019).

Conservation and research actions proposed
Protect remaining areas of lowland forest. Enforce restrictions on agricultural encroachment and logging within such protected areas. Continue and expand agroforestry schemes and monitor their effectiveness for Treron aromaticus and other Buru endemic species. Assess scale of hunting pressure. Generate density estimates to inform a revised population estimate for the species. Continue to estimate population trends by calculating rates of forest loss within its range using satellite imagery and remote sensing techniques.

c. 28 cm. A medium-sized green pigeon with a grey crown (whitish forecrown), bright yellow fringes to wing coverts and flight feathers, reddish-purple legs.  Male has a restricted, very dark maroon back, in the female this is green. Similar spp.  T. axillaris has a red base to the bill, has a more extensive and paler maroon area on the back and blue-grey legs and feet. T. phayrei has an orange-yellow breast patch and pinkish red feet. Thick-billed Pigeon T. curvirostrata has red legs and feet, bare skin around the eye and has rufous undertail coverts.

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J., Fernando, E., Halaouate, M., Martin, R., Robson, C., Symes, A., Taylor, J. & Westrip, J.R.S.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Buru Green-pigeon Treron aromaticus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/buru-green-pigeon-treron-aromaticus on 25/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 25/11/2024.