Local People Help to Secure the Future of IBAs in Africa
The publication of an Important Bird Area (IBA) inventory for a country or a region sets an important baseline from which progress in the long-term conservation of IBAs can be monitored. It is vital that trends in the status of IBAs are identified, so as to provide early warning of change. Assessments can be made in terms of presence and population sizes of key indicator bird species, and in the success and failure of management interventions undertaken. Data are required not only to review priorities, but also to understand the reasons for change in the status of sites and the species that depend on them.
Given that some 49% of IBAs in Africa (597 out of 1,230 sites) overlap with national protected-area networks, there is considerable potential for BirdLife Partners to work closely with management authorities. People living close to or in IBAs also play a vital role in monitoring their status. African BirdLife Partners are encouraging Site Support Groups (SSGs) to play a central role in monitoring at IBAs, both warning of threats, and providing a platform for people to gain a wide range of experience.
Monitoring provides understanding of sites that allows SSG members and others to work together to establish links with local administrations and with external agencies. SSG members cannot easily be ignored by decision-makers at any level. They also contribute to monitoring in wider contexts, organizing and participating in national and international activities, for example the African Waterbird Census of Wetlands International.
SSGs are one of the key mechanisms to secure a future for IBAs, and 10 BirdLife Partners in Africa are supporting 49 SSGs already. Nature Kenya has set up an intern programme, where candidates from one SSG are funded to spend time at another, and to work with the group there to share and gain experience in a wide range of skills, including monitoring.