FEATURE
T H E
G R E AT E S T
T H R E AT S
F A C I N G
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T O D A Y
The threats facing the world’s IBAs are complex and varied. But thanks to improvements
and innovations in monitoring over the past 40 years, we have a clearer picture than ever
of the main issues – and the IBAs most at risk
Olivia Crowe
dentifying key sites for
birds and biodiversity has
been the key objective
of Birdlife’s Important
Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
programme since it began in the late
1970s. Unfortunately, IBAs, regardless
of whether they are protected or not,
increasingly come under pressure
from badly planned development and
land use activities. Recognising the
need to measure the impacts of these
activities, and the effectiveness of any
conservation measures implemented,
I
BirdLife launched a comprehensive
monitoring protocol in 2006. As part
of this monitoring protocol, we ask
BirdLife Partners globally to report
regularly on the condition of their IBAs,
including on threats.
IBA monitoring has exposed many
sites which are subject to very high
levels of threat, and which are at the
greatest risk of losing their biodiversity
assets. There are currently 241 sites
in 48 countries on BirdLife’s IBAs in
Danger list, an initiative that highlights
and promotes sites in dire need of
urgent conservation action.
Here, we take a closer look at some
of the threats taking place in IBAs
based on threat information gathered
at almost 4,800 IBAs and stored in the
World Database of Key Biodiversity
Areas. The top-20 threats (out of a total
of 43 reported) are illustrated in the
accompanying graph (see right), which
highlights the predominant threats
identified across most global regions.
Further details on the top four threats
are also provided.
Pied Oystercatchers Haematopus
longirostri at the Coorong, South
Australia
Photo Shutterstock
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BIRDLIFE • XXXXX 2018