Important Bird Areas need safeguarding, as a major part of securing the key biodiversity areas network

BirdLife Sidi Bou Ghaba Environmental Education Centre opening ceremony, Morocco Zoom In

Systematic ecological networks, built around key biodiversity areas, are needed to conserve biodiversity. IBAs already form the backbone of such a network but, at present, many lack any statutory recognition or legal protection. Nevertheless, their identification is stimulating effective safeguard for sites under a range of governance mechanisms.

Networks of protected areas are essential, but remain very incomplete

Nations have already invested heavily in systems of protected areas and this is one of the most valuable mechanisms for biodiversity conservation. Unfortunately, and for many reasons, these systems are rarely designed so as to conserve biodiversity comprehensively. Although more than 100,000 protected areas have been established world-wide, analyses show that many serious gaps in coverage remain. More systematic ecological networks are needed to ensure that globally important biodiversity is conserved. These should consist of key areas of the highest biodiversity value that are interconnected within a managed landscape. Safeguarding these 'key biodiversity areas' (see box 1) will require a variety of governance approaches, including, for example, national parks, community and indigenous conservation areas and private reserves. However, all need to be managed in order to safeguard the important biodiversity they shelter.

Many Important Bird Areas need recognition

Because of the extensive information available about birds, Important Bird Areas (IBAs) tend to be identified sooner than other key biodiversity areas. Fortunately, the IBA network is effective at capturing other biodiversity, and thus itself forms an excellent basis for planning and implementing conservation – right away. However, a high proportion of IBAs are entirely unprotected, including many which hold Globally Threatened Birds (box 2). These IBAs are priority sites for being accorded appropriate forms of statutory recognition and protection.

Important Bird Areas are influencing the identification of new protected areas

The situation is, however, improving in some parts of the world. In the European Union, where Member States are required to designate 'Special Protection Areas' (SPAs) under the legal instrument of the Birds Directive, IBAs have been recognised as a 'shadow' list of SPAs and inform the process of site designation in many countries. As a result, there has been a slow but significant increase in recent years in the number of IBAs granted legal protection (box 3). In Africa also, IBA designation is having an impact on the designation of new protected areas (box 4). In Vietnam, the identification of IBAs has encouraged the government to gazette a number of new protected areas. For example, the Lo Go Xa Mat IBA has now been designated a National Park, with the endorsement and involvement of the local communities, and substantial resources have been allocated to its development and protection (box 5).

Boxes: case studies and scientific analyses

Download SOWB pp.60–61 (PDF, 588 KB) containing the following:

1. What are key biodiversity areas?

2. Many African IBAs, including those holding GTBs, have no legal recognition or protection
32 IBAs in Africa hold one or more GTBs that presently lack protection at any site

3. Within the EU there has been slow but significant progress in the legal recognition of IBAs as Special Protection Areas
Designation of SPAs in the EU in 1989 and 1999

4. In Africa, recognition of the value of IBAs is resulting in the designation of new pretected areas
One of the outcomes of a 5-year project in Africa is that 50 IBAs across 10 countries have been given legal protection

5. Identification of Lo Go Xa Mat as an IBA in Vietnam resulted in it being declared a National Park