Important Bird Areas form networks in the landscape

BirdLife A network of 160 IBAs has been identified for a congregatory species, Eurasian Spoonbill Zoom In

The global network of Important Bird Areas forms a crucial stronghold for maintaining species’ overall ranges and populations, and provides a set of vital stepping stones for migrants.

Networks of Important Bird Areas conserve core populations in critical habitat

Important Bird Areas (IBAs) represent the most significant sites for bird conservation. One site alone is usually not enough to protect a particular species. However, safeguarding networks of such sites can effectively conserve birds of varied ecologies and distributions. Networks of IBAs have been defined for many Globally Threatened Birds (at risk because of their declining populations, small populations and/or small ranges — see pdf case study, box 1). IBA networks also seek to capture significant populations of all species with restricted ranges (whose distributions define Endemic Bird Areas) (box 2), or limited to particular biomes (box 3). Most restricted-range and biome-restricted species are mainly sedentary. By contrast, many congregatory species are long-distance migrants. The IBA networks for these species protect critical sites along their migration routes, at which large proportions of their populations concentrate at different points in their life-cycles (box 4). IBA networks often cover only a small fraction of each species.s total range. Because they conserve core populations in critical habitat, they provide an excellent means of focusing conservation effort.

Small patches of habitat promote connectivity in modified landscapes

In agricultural and other modified landscapes, areas of remaining natural habitat may now be widely separated or restricted to small, apparently isolated fragments. However, even tiny patches can be important in maintaining connectivity between larger areas of favourable habitat. Studies are demonstrating dispersal between fragments, even for species usually considered to be sedentary. Habitat islands that act as .stepping stones. can thus be vital for species survival in highly fragmented landscapes. Where fragments are relatively close to each other, IBAs include both the fragments and the surrounding matrix within their boundaries (box 5). Where patches are more widely separated, sympathetic management of the landscape that takes into account species' dispersal needs is essential.

Boxes: case studies and scientific analyses

Download SOWB pp.26–27 (PDF, 374 KB) containing the following:

1. A network of 34 IBAs have been identified for the globally threatened Blue Swallow
The 34 IBAs identified for Blue Swallow cover 8.4% of its estimated total range

2. A network of 18 IBAs have been identified for restricted-range species (Ecuador-Peru East Andes EBA)
18 IBAs in Ecuador and Peru capture all 17 r-r species of the Ecuador-Peru East Andes EBA

3. A network of 105 IBAs have been identified for species that are confined to biomes (Sudan-Guinea Savanna biome)
IBAs for a biome

4. A network of 160 IBAs has been identified for a congregatory species (Eurasian Spoonbill)
The network of wetland IBAs for the migratory Eurasian Spoonbill

5. A network of forest fragments in Kenya
Taita Hills of south-east Kenya