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PW003
Western Ridge, Babeldaob
Location Palau, Ngardmau,Ngaremlengui
Central coordinates 134o 33.00' East  7o 34.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A2
Area 2,262 ha
Altitude
Year of IBA assessment 2008

Palau Conservation Society



Ornithological information All of Palau’s restricted-range bird species, with the exception of the Giant White-eye, are found in the Western Ridge IBA.

Site description This IBA includes the block of forest spanning a portion of west Babeldaob. It includes a strip of northern Ngaremlengui and southern Ngardmau that parallels the major river of the Diongradid watershed. The boundary of the Western Ridge IBA follows river tributaries to the north and south, the edge of the mangroves to the west, and the Compact Road to the east. A small section in the northeast boundary was redrawn to be consistent with boundaries of the proposed Ngardmau Free Trade Zone.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Micronesian Megapode Megapodius laperouse resident  2005  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2  Endangered 
Palau Ground-dove Gallicolumba canifrons resident  2005  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Near Threatened 
Palau Fruit-dove Ptilinopus pelewensis resident  2005  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Micronesian Imperial-pigeon Ducula oceanica resident  2005  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Near Threatened 
Palau Scops-owl Otus podarginus resident  2005  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Palau Swiftlet Collocalia pelewensis resident  2005  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Micronesian Kingfisher Todiramphus cinnamominus resident  2005  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Micronesian Myzomela Myzomela rubratra resident  2005  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Morningbird Pachycephala tenebrosa resident  2005  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Palau Fantail Rhipidura lepida resident  2005  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Mangrove Flycatcher Myiagra erythrops resident  2005  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Palau Bush-warbler Cettia annae resident  2005  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Caroline Islands White-eye Zosterops semperi resident  2005  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Dusky White-eye Zosterops finschii resident  2005  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Micronesian Starling Aplonis opaca resident  2005  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Lowland forest - mixed swamp  major

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
nature conservation and research minor
agriculture minor
Notes: wetland taro cultivation, semi-subsistence mixed dryland plots and agroforestry

Other biodiversity The Western Ridge IBA consists of volcanic upland forest, both primary and secondary. It also captures swamp forests, grasslands and savannas as well as freshwater streams and riverine areas. These habitats are home to many of Babeldaob’s native flora and fauna.

Management considerations This IBA may include a portion of the Medal a Iyechad Waterfall protected area in the state of Ngardmau. While the waterfall itself is within the Middle Ridge IBA, a portion of the river and its watershed lie within the Western Ridge IBA. The boundaries of the protected area still must be officially demarcated and mapped before the extent of overlap with the two IBAs is clear. The waterfall is one of a few places in Babeldaob that has developed the ecotourism potential of a terrestrial protected area. The waterfall has an average of 900 visitors every month. Portions of the trail to the waterfall are quite steep and subject to erosion, while another section runs along the river and is extremely muddy due to increasing foot traffic. The state government of Ngardmau that manages the trail has expressed their concern regarding the trail being a source of sedimentation and erosion into the river and to their coastline. A program is being developed to improve the trail to minimize erosion and sedimentation. This IBA also includes part of the Ngermeskang Nature Reserve in Ngaremlengui. This newer protected area was established by state legislation in 2007. Ngermeskang River is the largest river in Palau and the primary purpose of this reserve is to protect the headwaters of the Ngermeskang River. Part of the Ngermeskang Nature Reserve not included in this IBA is captured in Middle Ridge IBA where it meets the Ngardok Nature Reserve to the east on Babeldaob’s central ridge.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Western Ridge, Babeldaob. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013

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