Justification
This secretive species qualifies as Endangered because it has a very small, fragmented range and population which are declining as the extent and quality of its forest habitat diminishes. Furthermore, it has suffered a drastic decline, probably losing more than 50% of its population over the last decade, owing to the effects of severe cyclones.

Threats
It is threatened by deforestation for agriculture particularly combined with the severe effects of cyclones, e.g. in 1990 and 1991, when canopy cover was reduced from 100% to 27%⁸. Forest quality is further reduced by the invasive of highly aggressive non-native trees whose spread is aided by hurricanes¹⁰. Hunting is also a further threat, e.g. in 1985, 400 birds were being shot every year⁵. Although hunting is now illegal, birds are still shot in the seasonal harvest of unprotected pigeon species⁷.

Conservation
It is fully protected by law and hunting is banned. It occurs in some proposed and a few existing protected areas, but these have suffered cyclone damage and the O Le Pupu Pu`e National Park on `Upolu is threatened by logging and cattle-farming⁵. It has recently been chosen as a flagship species to promote conservation awareness.

Targets
*Extend the hunting ban to cover all native columbids to avoid shooting⁶. *Conduct further surveys to determine its distribution and population numbers^6,9,11. *Gather further information on its life-history and habitat requirements^6,9,11. *Investigate threats^9,11. *Identify important sites, set up a network of long-term monitoring stations, and establish conservation areas/nature reserves, e.g. on the four small islands off the east coast of `Upolu including Nu`utele (Aleipata)^6,9,11. *Increase local involvement in its study and conservation^9,11.