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WS003
Uafato-Tiavea Forest
Location Samoa, Upolo
Central coordinates 171o 30.67' West  13o 57.76' South
IBA criteria A1, A2
Area 2,330 ha
Altitude 0 - 740m
Year of IBA assessment 2010





Ornithological information The site has been extensively surveyed since 1991 when it was recognised as a priority site for the conservation of lowland forests in Samoa. Globally threatened species such as Tooth- billed Pigeon, Mao, Samoan Triller and Samoan Flycatcher are present in the low elevations. It is the only site where the first three of these species are all found along the coastal ridges - although population densities are not as high as other identified sites.

Site description This site covers a high priority forest conservation site on the north west of Upolu island. The lowland forest was identified in the Samoa NBSAP as a high priority for forest conservation due to its pristine lowland forest and the high density and richness of plants and avifauna.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
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 
Mao Gymnomyza samoensis resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2  Endangered 
Polynesian Triller Lalage maculosa resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Samoan Triller Lalage sharpei resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2  Near Threatened 
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)  
Uafato Conservation Area 1,400 protected area contained by site 1,400  

Other biodiversity The site is home to good populations of other threatened species such as Pteropus samoensis and Intisa bijuga

Protection status The Uafato Community Conservation area covers the western half of the site and is currently managed by the village of Uafato. A management plan, to maintain sustainable long-term harvesting of Intisa bijuga, has been designed.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Uafato-Tiavea Forest. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

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