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WS006
Central Savaii Rainforest (includes Tuasivi Ridge AZE)
Location Samoa, Savaii
Central coordinates 172o 24.99' West  13o 36.77' South
IBA criteria A1, A2
Area 72,699 ha
Altitude 500 - 1,800m
Year of IBA assessment 2010





Ornithological information Six separate surveys have been undertaken on part of the site, although there are large areas that have not been surveyed to date. The site is the only likely site for the Samoa Moorhen, a species not definitely recorded since 1873, although there were possible sightings in 1987. In adddition Samoan White-eye is recorded here, and nowhere else.

Site description This site is home to the largest diversity and population of birds in the country. It covers all the Savaii uplands above approximately 500m in elevation. This includes the Tuasivi Ridge, itself classed as a KBA and an AZE as the last site for the Samoan Moorhen.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Samoan Moorhen Gallinula pacifica resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2  Critically Endangered 
Shy Ground-dove Gallicolumba stairi resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2  Vulnerable 
Tooth-billed Pigeon Didunculus strigirostris resident  2010  -  -  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  -  -  -  A1, A2  Endangered 
Cardinal Myzomela Myzomela cardinalis resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
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 White-eye Zosterops samoensis resident  -  -  -  A1, A2  Vulnerable 
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 

Management considerations The site is threatened by logging along the lower slopes where millable timber can be found. A recent government policy directive stopping commercial logging operations could provide the necessary protection. The northwest side of the IBA is often threatened by forest fires during the dry season, while cyclones are always possible during the wet season.

Protection status Three national parks are located around the perimeter of the site - Asau-Falelima NP in the North West, Lata NP in the south and Mauga Salafai NP to the east. The site incorporates the Tuasiva Ridge KBA and AZE site within its boundaries.

Further web sources of information 

Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This site has been identified as an AZE due to it containing a Critically Endangered or Endangered species with a limited range.

Click here for more information about the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE)

Contribute  Please click here to help BirdLife conserve the world's birds - your data for this IBA and others are vital for helping protect the environment.

Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Central Savaii Rainforest (includes Tuasivi Ridge AZE). 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