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WS001
Aleipata Marine Protected Area
Location Samoa, Upolo
Central coordinates 171o 25.36' West  14o 3.80' South
IBA criteria A1, A2
Area 5,035 ha
Altitude 0 - 210m
Year of IBA assessment 2010





Ornithological information This site is of critical importance as a major site for nesting seabirds, although counts of numbers present have not yet been attained. In additioan it is home to a number of globally threatened terrestrial species.

Site description This site follows the boundaries of the Aleipata MPA which includes the outer islands and the inshore reef of the Aleipata district. The site comprises 4 small islands off the coast of Aleipata all of which have lowland rainforest ecosystems. An extensive intertidal zone provides a feeding site for migrant seabirds, while there is also a mangrove forest.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Shy Ground-dove Gallicolumba stairi resident  2010  -  medium  A1, A2  Vulnerable 
Tooth-billed Pigeon Didunculus strigirostris resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2  Endangered 
Many-coloured Fruit-dove Ptilinopus perousii resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Purple-capped Fruit-dove Ptilinopus porphyraceus resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Blue-crowned Lorikeet Vini australis resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Flat-billed Kingfisher Todiramphus recurvirostris resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Wattled Honeyeater Foulehaio carunculatus resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Cardinal Myzomela Myzomela cardinalis resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Polynesian Triller Lalage maculosa resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Samoan Whistler Pachycephala flavifrons resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Samoan Fantail Rhipidura nebulosa resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Samoan Flycatcher Myiagra albiventris resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2  Near Threatened 
Samoan Starling Aplonis atrifusca resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Polynesian Starling Aplonis tabuensis resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Red-headed Parrotfinch Erythrura cyaneovirens resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Aleipata Marine Protected Area Project 5,000 is identical to site 5,000  
Nu'utele Islands Other Area 170 protected area contained by site 170  

Other biodiversity The site is a major nesting site for the hawksbill turtle, while the MPA is a foraging ground for green turtles and humpback whales.

Management considerations Presence of invasive rats has been addressed, hopefully, through eradication together with increased biosecurity measures for all boats visiting the island. There are still a few pigs on the island that may cause problems if not addressed quickly.

Conservation response A rat eradication programme was undertaken on Nu'utele and Nu'ulua in autumn 2009. Although it is early days yet first signs are encouraging. There are still some pigs on the island.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Aleipata Marine Protected Area. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife