An Endemic Bird Area (EBA) is a territory covering less than 50.000 km2 where at least 2 bird species, endemic to this specific region, meet.
ZOE
Definition
EBA Worldwide
An inventory of the Endemic Bird Areas has been made by Birdlife International. The vast majority of the 218 EBA are located in the tropics. No fewer than 2500 birds species ( 26% of the birds on Earth) only meet in those areas which cover only 5% of the global land surface.
Since this distribution pattern also applies to other forms of life, the EBA carry significance in maintaining global biological diversity.
Secondary areas
A Secondary Area is a territory that also cover less than 50.000 km2 but that shelters only one endemic species. As many animal and plant species evolve in the same endemic area, the EBA are excellent indicators of biodiversity.
The 4 EBA and the Secondary Area of French Polynesia
French Polynesia exhibits high levels of endemism and therefore includes 4 out of the 218 EBA defined worldwide (Stattersfield et al. 1998). This makes French Polynesia the 2nd Pacific territory with the most EBA, after Papua New Guinea.
The 4 EBA located in French Polynesia are approximately consistent with the archipelagos. Three of these EBA are in critical condition according to Birdlife.
The island of Rimatara in the Australs archipelago is the 2nd smallest EBA in the world (after the island of Laysan in Hawaii ).
The island of Rapa in the same archipelago is classified as a Secondary Area since it shelters only one restricted-area endemic species.
- Z.O.E 211 : Rimatara (Australes islands)
Priority : CRITICAL - Z.O.E 212 : Marquesas islands
Priority : CRITICAL - Z.O.E 213 : Society islands
Priority : URGENT - Z.O.E 214 : Tuamotu archipelagoes
Priority : CRITICAL - SECONDARY AREA s136 : Rapa (Australes islands)