Tony Palliser Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti Zoom In

Christmas Island development threats

24-09-2002

The wildlife of the tiny (135km²) Australian territory of Christmas Island, located about 300 km south of Java, Indonesia, is threatened by two major developments.

After consideration of an Environmental Assessment Report, the Australian Government has approved plans to build a satellite launching facility, with an associated port, on the island. However, Birds Australia (BirdLife in Australia) believes that concerns about quarantine and feral pests, fire, disturbance, road-kills and night lighting associated with the development have only been partly addressed in the 65 environmental conditions placed on the facility by the Government.

The Australian Government has also approved plans for an Immigration Processing and Reception Centre, in this case without a full environmental impact study. The site chosen is in a clearing at the north-western tip of Christmas Island, immediately adjacent to a crucial breeding area for the Critically Endangered, endemic Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti. Studies show that the breeding success of Abbott's Booby is reduced near forest clearings and conservation action for the species is focusing on reforesting clearings adjacent to important breeding sites. The proposed development would therefore interfere with the recovery of the island's best-known endangered bird.

Birds Australia is extremely concerned about these major developments on Christmas Island. Island birds are particularly vulnerable to extinction, and Christmas Island's wildlife is already under severe threat from the introduced yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes (see World Birdwatch 21(4): 6). The biological importance of Christmas Island's fauna and flora cannot be overstated. Five endemic bird species (Abbott's Bobby, Christmas Island Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi, Christmas Island Imperial Pigeon Ducula whartoni, Christmas Island Hawk-Owl Ninox natalis and Christmas Island White-eye Zosterops natalis) and five endemic bird subspecies are all classified as Critically Endangered.

Michael Weston (Research and Conservation Manager), Richard Hill and Andrew Dunn, Birds Australia