Andorra Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Belarus Belgium Belize Bolivia Botswana Brazil Bulgaria BurkinaFaso Burundi Cameroon Canada

Canada Chile CookIslands Coted’Ivoire Cuba Cyprus CzechRepublic Djibouti Denmark Dominican Ecuador Egypt ElSalvador Estonia Ethiopia FalklandIslands FaroeIslands Finland France

Republic (Malvinas)

French Georgia Germany Ghana Gibratar Greece HongKong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Japan Jordan Kenya Kuwait Polynesia

Latvia Lebanon Liberia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg FYRMacedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Malta Mexico Myanmar Nepal Netherlands NewCaledonia NewZealand Nigeria Norway

Palau Palestine Panama Paraguay Philippines Poland Portugal PuertoRico Qatar Romania Rwanda Samoa SaudiArabia Seychelles SierraLeone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia SouthAfrica

Spain SriLanka Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Tunisia Turkey Uganda Ukraine UnitedKingdom Uruguay USA Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Important Bird Areas of the World

Areas Importantes para la Conservación de las Aves en el mundoZones importantes pour la conservation des oiseaux dans le monde

UnprotectedIBAorprotectionstatusunknown

WhollyorpartiallyprotectedIBA

TheprocessofIBAidentificationisstillunderwayinsomeareas,includingAntarctica,Chile,NewGuinea,NewZealand,theUSAandinthemarineenvironment.Preliminaryorpartialinformationisshownfortheseareas,whereavailable.WhileallIBAsareinternationallysignificant,onlythosemeetingglobalcriteriaareshown.

ThepresentationofinformationonthismapandthegeographicaldesignationsemployeddonotimplytheexpressionofanyopinionwhatsoeveronthepartofBirdLifeInternationalconcerningthelegalstatusofanycountry,territoryorarea,orconcerningthedelimitationofitsfrontiersorboundaries.

MoreinformationonBirdLifeInternational’sImportantBirdAreasprogrammeisgivenonthereverseofthisposter.

Ключевые орнитологические территории мира

世界上的重點鳥區 المناطق المهمة للطيور في العالم

10,000sitestosave 10.000sitesàsauver 10,000個需要拯救的地方 10.000sitiosparasalvar 10,000территорийподлежатохране ١٠,٠٠٠ موقع بحاجة للحماية

www.birdlife.org

12 3

467

89

10

121314

11

5

15Montecristo & El Imposible National Parks, El Salvador Upper Bay of Panama,

Panama

Bajo Rio Beni, Bolivia

San Rafael National Park, Paraguay

Mt Afadjato-Agumatsa, Ghana

Musambwa Islands, Lake Victoria, Uganda

Kibira National Park,Burundi Dar es Salaam coast, Tanzania

Eastern Highlands, Zimbabwe

Palas Valley, PakistanTruong Son, Vietnam

Sekong River, Cambodia

Natmataung National Park, Myanmar

Palbong Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines

... are identified using standardised science-based criteria

FourcategoriesofcriteriaareusedtoidentifyIBAsconsistentlyworldwide.Thesearebasedonthetwomainconsiderationsusedinplanningsitenetworksforbiodiversityconservation:threat(category1)andirreplaceability(categories2,3&4).

… are being saved through the conservation efforts of BirdLife working with governments and others worldwide

ImportantBird Areas ...

... facilitate implementation of international agreements

IBAinformationisrelevanttoanumberofMultilateralEnvironmentalAgreements.FortheRamsarConvention,IBAidentificationcriteriaarecloselyalignedwiththoseusedtoselectwetlandsitesofinternationalimportance.Thus,IBAsthatpotentiallyqualifyasRamsarsites,buthaveyettobedesignated,caneasilybehighlighted.

... enable adaptation to climate changeRobustmeasuresareneededtomaintainbiodiversityinthefaceofclimatechange.Theseincludeeffortstomaximisetheresilienceofecosystemsandfacilitatetheiradaptationtoclimatechangeimpacts.Modellingsuchimpactsisprovidingcriticalinsightintolikelypatternsofenforcedchangesonthedistributionofbirds,andsohelpingtodevelopadaptivemanagementframeworksforIBAs.

... are a focus for local engagement in conservation

Sincethelate1990s,BirdLifehasbeennurturingandnetworkinggrassrootsgroupsatIBAs.Numberingover2,500worldwideandknownasLocalConservationGroups(LCGs),theyencouragelocalparticipationinconservationandoftenfocusonthemostmarginalisedcommunitymembers(forexample,byformalisinglandrightsforindigenouspeople,andensuringthatwomenormembersoflowstatusgroupsareincludedindecision-making).

... are monitored to inform policy and action

IBAsacrosstheworldaremonitoredusingBirdLife’sstandardisedandsimplemethodsforscoringtheircondition(basedonthekeyspeciesandhabitatswithinthem),thepressures(threats)thatimpactthemandtheconservationresponsesinplace(suchasactionplansandmanagementactivities).Suchmonitoring,carriedoutbylocalgroups,volunteers,governmentstaffandBirdLifePartners,generatesdataforIBAindicesthatprovidepowerfultoolsforquantifyingconservationeffortsandmeasuringtheirimpact.

... are the most significant places for conserving birds

Someplacesaremuchmoreimportantforbirds(andotherbiodiversity)thanothers.Itiseffectivetofocusconservationeffortontheseplaces.ForIBAs,thedistributionofkeybirdspeciesdefinesthekeysites—discreteareasofhabitatthatcanbedelineatedand,atleastpotentially,managedforconservation.Currently,some10,000IBAshavebeenidentifiedworldwide,withglobalcoverageofterrestrialandfreshwaterenvironmentsnearlycomplete.

... are documented through a bottom-up process

WhereverpossibleIBAidentificationanddocumentationareledbytheBirdLifePartnerorganisationin-country.Thisfeedsthebestlocalknowledgeintotheprocessandbuildsengagementandcapacityforconservationandmonitoring.Bymid-2010,fivecontinentaldirectoriesand126nationalIBAinventorieshadbeenpublished,inavarietyoflanguages.

0

30

60

90

120

150

2010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419921991198919881987

Num

ber o

f pub

licat

ions

Year of publication

... form networks in the wider landscape

ManybirdsdependonnetworksofIBAs.Migrantsinparticularneedsitesalongtheirflywaystosupportallstagesoftheirannualcycles.Internationalcollaboration,asintheWingsOverWetlands(WOW)programmeforAfrican-Eurasianmigratorywaterbirds,isvitaltoachievethis.

... highlight gaps in protected area networks

TheProgrammeofWorkonProtectedAreasoftheConventiononBiologicalDiversityencouragescountriestoestablishandmaintaincomprehensiveandecologicallyrepresentativeprotectedareanetworks.CombiningdataonIBAsandexistingprotectedareashighlightssomeofthemostimportantgaps.Despiterecentincreases,onlysome25%ofIBAsarefullylegallyprotected.

... inform environmentally responsible development

TheIntegratedBiodiversityAssessmentTool(IBAT)providesdecision-makerswithcriticalinformationsothatbiodiversityconsiderationscanbeintegratedattheearlieststagesofprojectplanning.SpatialinformationonIBAsisusedbyIBATtohelpinformenvironmentalimpactassessments,managementplansandbusinessoperations.

... provide essential ecosystem services

IBAconservationmaintainsbiodiversityandensuressustainedflowofnumerousecosystemservicestolocalcommunities(e.g.harvestedwildgoods),regionallyornationally(e.g.water)andglobally(e.g.carbonsequestration,tourism).

... are also being identified across the oceans

Manyseabirdbreedingsitesandsignificantcoastalareasfornon-breedingspeciesarealreadylistedasIBAs.Theirboundariesarenowbeingextendedtoincludeforagingareas,whereappropriate.WorkisongoingtoidentifyIBAs(asEcologicallyandBiologicallySignificantAreas—EBSAs)intheopenoceans.

... are vital for livelihoods and wellbeing

Understandingtheconsequencesofpovertyisessentialinidentifyinghowbiodiversityconservationcanimprovelocallivelihoods.BirdLifePartnersworkwithandempowerlocalcommunitiesatIBAstodevelopsite-specificsolutionstoconservationanddevelopmentchallenges.

... support a wealth of other biodiversity

EvidenceshowsthatIBAnetworksaredisproportionatelyimportantforotheranimalsandplants.Theyareaneffective‘firstcut’oftheoverallnetworkofKeyBiodiversityAreas(KBAs),themostsignificantsitesforbiodiversityconservationworldwide.ThehighestconservationprioritiesofallKBAsaretheAllianceforZeroExtinctionsites(AZEs),thoseholdingthelastremainingpopulationsofCriticallyEndangeredorEndangeredspecies.Some600AZEshavebeenidentifiedworldwide,ofwhichmorethanhalfarealsoIBAs.

Mor

e act

ion

Grea

ter t

hrea

tsBe

tter c

ondi

tion

0

1

2

3 Protected AreasUnprotected Areas

0

1

2

3

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006Year

Response

0

1

2

3

Me

an

s

co

re

Pressure

State

2000 2002 2004 2006

2000 2002 2004 2006

Increasing diversificationIncreasing valueHigh turnoverIncreasing specialisationHigh persistence

0

20

40

60

80

100

Rese

arch

and

mon

itorin

g

Cons

erva

tion

plan

ning

Cons

erva

tion

actio

n

Alte

rnat

ive li

velih

ood

impr

ovem

ent a

ctivi

ties

Educ

atio

n an

d aw

aren

ess c

reat

ion

Harv

estin

g of r

esou

rces

Finan

cial s

ervic

esNum

ber o

f LCG

s

Activities undertaken by African LCGs

200 Highest number of members in a single LCG

29 Highest number of LCGsin one country

18 Most LCGs associated with one IBA

8 Highest number of IBAs covered with one LCG

198 LCGs at 119 IBAs in Africa in 2009

1230 Number of IBAs in Africa

58% of LCGs

legally registered

Some key facts about African LCGs

Non-timber forest products (including food & medicines)Meat / fishGrazing / browseLive animals / pet tradeFirewood / charcoalTimberWater provisonEmployment / tourismCeremony / religionShelter

The range of benefits that communities obtain from IBAsSource: www.birdlife.org/sowb

0

10

20

30

40

50

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010Year

% p

rote

cted

Mean % area protected

% sites completely protected

Coverage of Important Bird Areas by protected areas

Management scenarios for African Important Bird Areas, based on the turnover of species projected under climate changeSeewww.africa-climate-exchange.org

National IBA publications 1987–2010

Important Bird Area indices for Kenya, showing trends in the state of IBAs, pressures upon them, and responses in place

White-necked Parakeet

Coppery-chested Jacamar

Bicoloured Antvireo

Peru

ecuador

colombia ecuador–Peru east andes eba

Number of restricted-range species• 11–14

• 6–10

• 3–5

• 1–2

www.birdlife.org

A network of IBAs identified around the Iberian Peninsula and in Macaronesia

Sources: Ramírez et al. (2008) Áreas Importantes para as Aves

Marinhas em Portugal. Lisboa: Sociedade Portuguesa Para o Estudo

das Aves. Lisboa. Arcos et al. (2009) Áreas Importantes para la

Conservación de las Aves marinas en España. Madrid: Sociedad

Española de Ornitología (SEO/BirdLife).

Two recently published marine IBA inventories can be accessed here:

Portugal http://lifeibasmarinhas.spea.pt/y-book/ibasmarinhas, Spain

www.seo.org/avesmarinas/flash.html#/10102030405060708090

100

1 2 3 4 5 6

The percentage of Ugandan butterfly species represented in Ugandan IBAs in each of six conservation priority categories

% o

f Uga

ndan

spec

ies

Conservation priority score

AZE sites IBAs KBAs

IBA / KBA / AZE relationships Seewww.zeroextinction.org

The WOW Critical Site Network Tool displaying the network of IBAs identified for Black-tailed Godwit and the flyways of the four relevant populationsSeewww.wingsoverwetlands.org/csntool

The IBAs in the Asia region that contain areas which qualify as potential Ramsar sites

Colours represent differentscenarios, with associatedmanagement recommendations:

10,000sitestosave 10.000sitesàsauver 10,000個需要拯救的地方 10.000sitiosparasalvar 10,000территорийподлежатохране ١٠,٠٠٠ موقع بحاجة للحماية

ImportantBird Areas

The world’s 10,000 IBAs and their protection status by region

0% 50% 100%

Europe

Central America and the Caribbean

North America

Australasia

Africa

Asia

South America

Middle East and Central Asia

Oceania

Mean

Percentage of wholly or partially protected IBAs

Source: Analysis of data held in BirdLife’s World Bird Database

Criteria for identifying IBAs

1

Globally threatened

species

2 Restricted-

range species those with breeding ranges smaller than

50,000 km2

3 Biome-

restricted assemblages

communities of birds characteristic of a distinct biome

4

Congregations large aggregations of one

or more species

Source: www.birdlife.org/sowb

Relationship between current protected area network and IBAs in Bolivia

Home page of the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment ToolSeewww.ibatforbusiness.org

Image: Flickr/number657

Image: Flickr/guilherme_florian

Image: Garth Lenz/BirdLife

Image: BirdLife International

Source: Butchart et al. (in prep.).

Source: Mwangi et al. (2010) Bird Conserv. Internat. 20: 215-230

Source: Hole et al. (in prep.).

Imag

e: R

hino

ceru

s Hor

nbill

(Dr C

han

Ah L

ak)

Image: Bicoloured Antvireo (Guy Tudor) Coppery-chested Jacamar (Clive Byers) White-necked Parakeet (Etel Vilaró)

Image: Blue-bellied Roller (NCF)

Image: Lesser Flamingos (James Warwick)

Source: www.birdlife.org/sowb

Source: BirdLife International (2005) Important Bird Areas and potential Ramsar

sites in Asia. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International

Tourism Carbon

Harvested goods Water

Source: BirdLife International

Source: www.birdlife.org/sowb

Examples of ecosystem services

Des

igne

d by

Justi

ne P

ococ

k/N

atur

eBur

eau