In Arabuko-Sokoke, it occurs mostly in good quality Cynometra forest, and at much lower densities in secondary or more disturbed Cynometra forest (Virani 1995b, Evans 1997b). It roosts and forages in the dense lower half of the Cynometra canopy and possibly nests in natural cavities in large or old Brachylaena trees (Virani 1994, 1995b). It feeds mainly on beetles (Cameron 2003), with 91% of the diet in one study in Arabuko-Sokoke found to consist of Coleoptera (Virani 2008). In the East Usambaras it occurs in lowland coastal forest with a mixed tree species composition up to 400 m, which is taller and structurally different to that in Arabuko-Sokoke (Evans 1997b, N. Burgess in litt. 2007). Found in lowlands from 50–170 m elevation in Kenya, and from 200–400 m in E Usambaras in Tanzania (Holt et al. 2020).

The impact of more frequent droughts in the region (Makena 2024) exacerbates the impact of degradation caused by human use of forest products and by African Savannah Elephants Loxodonta africana, while the unsustainable extraction of Brachylaena huillensis causes ongoing loss of suitable habitat (Virani 1995a, Virani et al. 2010, Habel et al. 2021). Area is also being lost to titanium mining (Mbuvi et al. 2018). In the East Usambaras, deforestation for agriculture and timber extraction pose significant threats to the quality of the species' habitat. An overall continuing decline in the area and quality of habitat is inferred.

Known to occur in Kenya in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest near the coast and in the Dakatcha Woodland to the north of Arabuko-Sokoke, and in Tanzania in the lowlands of the East Usambara Mountains (Evans 1997, Virani et al. 2009). The species might also occur in the Mundane Range, near the Kenya-Somalia border (Virani 1995a, 1995b). In Dakatcha Woodland, the owl is confined to a small yet significant population occupying a shallow forested valley extending north from Kirosa, with a total area of approximately 30 km² (C. Jackson in litt. 2024). Scaled to a 2 x 2 km grid, the total area of the mapped range sums to 600 km², however occupancy is known to be sparse within this area. Using data on occupancy within Arabuko-Sokoke and other areas of Kenya based on Habel et al. (2021), a lower bound for the area of occupancy (AOO) is 372 km², hence the AOO is estimated at 372 - 600 km². The occupied area within Arabuko-Sokoke has declined in comparison with previous survey data (Habel et al. 2021) and a continuing decline in the AOO is inferred, supported by the observation of ongoing habitat loss and degradation elsewhere in the range. Due to the disjunct nature of the subpopulations the extent of occurrence (EOO) is relatively larger, at 7,100 km². Uncertainty over changes to presence at the poorly surveyed range edges means that it is not possible to infer a continuing decline in EOO.

The number of locations is estimated to be between two and five due to the increasing frequency of droughts in Kenya and northern Tanzania, driven by climate change. The species is believed to breed opportunistically in response to rainfall, so severe droughts could significantly impact the population by disrupting breeding patterns and reducing reproductive success (Cameron 2003). Additionally, the low number of locations reflects the fact that droughts are widespread events, affecting a larger proportion of the species' range compared to other threats, such as deforestation. The minimum number of locations is set at two, recognising that a single drought could impact the population in the East Usambara lowland forests, while another could affect the population in Kenya. The upper estimate of five accounts for the possibility that the effects of increasing droughts may not be uniform across the species' range. However, given the species' very small Area of Occupancy (AOO), it is unlikely that the number of locations would exceed five.

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. Arabuko-Sokoke Forest is the focus of a project aiming to promote long-term conservation through community management (Fanshawe 1997). Within the forest reserve there is a 43 km² strict nature reserve, although this does not contain good quality owl habitat (Virani 1995a, 1995b, 2000a, N. Burgess in litt. 2007). A two-yearly census of the owls in Arabuko-Sokoke has been initiated (M.Z.A. Virani in litt. 1999). The Peregrine Fund has been funding the study of the species in Arabuko-Sokoke, including the radio-tracking of birds (Cameron 2003). In the East Usambaras, the main habitat is found in the Kwamgumi-Bamba-Segoma forest reserves, and also in the lowland forests within the private Kwamtili estate (N. Burgess in litt. 2007). Efforts were started to link all of these forest areas together within a single forest reserve managed by the central government, but this has not been concluded and additional support is needed to complete the process (N. Burgess in litt. 2007, 2012). Kenya's National Environment Management Authority and Kenya Forest Service have withstood pressure for habitat alteration in the Dakatcha Woodland (Mwongela 2012). In the East Usambara mountain range from 2004 to 2013, WWF and partners ran a conservation program to maintain forest connectivity and improve livelihoods. This included restoring habitats, creating Village Forest Reserves, and promoting sustainable forest use. The program increased forest management effectiveness from 53% to 86%, reduced forest fires by 97%, expanded vegetation cover by 978.9 hectares, and planted 1.95 million trees. Currently, a new long-term program is being designed by WWF, BirdLife International, and the Wildlife Conservation Society through the Trillion Trees partnership (WWF, 2018). 

Conservation Actions Proposed
Study its breeding biology, population structure, survival, and habitat requirements (Virani et al. 2010). Study the effects of removing Brachylaena. Monitor populations and forest health in Arabuko-Sokoke, Dakatcha and Usambara forests. Evaluate the effectiveness of nest-boxes as substitute breeding sites (L. Bennun in litt. 1999). Survey additional lowland forest reserves, village forests, and unprotected forest patches in the East Usambaras, as well as Brachylaena-Cynometra woodland in the Mwakijembe area of north-eastern Tanzania, and, in Kenya, north of Dakatcha as far as the southern coast of Somalia to see whether they hold the species (M.Z.A. Virani in litt. 1999, N. Burgess in litt. 2007, N. Cordeiro in litt. 2007, Virani et al. 2010). Increase the area of suitable habitat that has protected status. Continue to work towards linking existing reserves into a single forest reserve in the lowland East Usambaras.