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Justification of Red List category
Although this species may have a restricted range, this extends over a much greater area than thresholds for listing as threatened and while the occupied area within this range has not been quantified, the area of suitable habitat present also exceeds thresholds. A slow population decline is suspected due to the current rate of forest cover loss within the range. The population size has not been quantified, but is not believed to be small given reported abundance in parts of the range. For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be abundant to not uncommon locally (del Hoyo et al. 1997). It is assumed that there are multiple subpopulations, with at least those on Bioko separate from the mainland populations.

Trend justification
There are no direct assessments of the population trend of this species. It is highly forest-dependent, hence the abundance is inferred to be directly related to the area of forest cover within the range of the species. There has been little forest cover loss within the range of the species with approximately 2% having been lost over the three generation period up to and including 2021 (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). This rate has increased slightly in recent years, such that a forward projection of the mean annual rate of forest cover loss from the most recent five years results in a suspected 3% loss over the future three generations. On a precautionary basis the population is suspected to be declining at a slow rate.

Occurs in montane forest above 1,000 m in eastern Nigeria and the Cameroon highlands, including Bioko. An estimated 12,806 km² of forest cover was present within the mapped range of this highly forest-dependent species in 2021 (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein).

Occurs between 1,000 - 2,500 m elevation in dense, montane forest (Baptista et al. 2020).

While rates of forest cover loss within the range of the species are low due to its occurrence at higher elevations, small amounts of dense forest are lost at an increasing rate (Global Forest Watch 2022) primarily to shifting cultivation and agroforestry by smallholders and in a limited way through larger scale conversion to commercial plantation, as noted in the Rumpi Hills in south west Cameroon (Beckline et al. 2018). Felling of trees for firewood may be a significant driver of forest cover loss in some areas (e.g. Shegwe et al. 2021).

Text account compilers
Martin, R.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Cameroon Olive-pigeon Columba sjostedti. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/cameroon-olive-pigeon-columba-sjostedti on 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.