An introduction to the Important Bird Areas programme

1
An introduction to the Important Bird Areas
programme

• Lincoln Fishpool
• BirdLife International

2
Definition

• The Important Bird Areas (IBA) programme seeks to
  identify, document and promote the conservation
  and sustainable management of a network of sites
  of global significance for birds

3
IBA Selection Categories

• 1 Species of global conservation concern
• 2 Assemblage of restricted-range species
• 3 Assemblage of biome-restricted species
• 4 Congregations
• 4i gt threshold numbers of waterbirds
• 4ii gt threshold numbers of sea- and landbirds
• 4iii gt 20,000 / 10,000 pairs
• 4iv Migratory bottleneck

4
Regional syntheses
5
3,619 IBAs cover 7 of Europe
6
391 IBAs cover 5 of the Middle East
7
1,228 IBAs cover 7 of Africa
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Category A4 IBAs in Africa
9
The network of IBAs for Lesser Kestrel in Europe,
the Middle East and Africa
10
Asia IBA programme

• Summary directory to be published late 2002
• National directories for Philippines, Taiwan and
  Indonesia published
• Preparation of directories for Nepal, Sri Lanka
  and India well advanced, others planned

11
Americas IBA programme

• Sites to be identified for all countries by end
  2004
• National directory for Mexico published, Panama
  imminent
• Inventory for Canada almost complete programmes
  running in 42 US States
• Programmes for Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela etc.
  well underway

12
World Bird Database
13
IBAs
14
Site details
15
Habitats
16
Land-use
17
Threats
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Summary text
19
Populations
20
Criteria
21
Link to Protected Areas