IBA conservation

The conservation status of Important Bird & Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) is monitored according to a simple, practical and robust framework. The process involves regular assessments, in which each IBA is scored against indicators of state (the condition of the important bird populations and/or their habitats at the site), pressure (the threats impacting these important populations/habitats) and response (the actions being taken to conserve the important populations/habitats).

IBA monitoring is now well established in many countries (see national and regional reports here), although it is not yet systematically applied at all sites globally (e.g. in countries without a BirdLife Partner). If no data are displayed below, then national IBA monitoring has yet to commence or the data have yet to be shared with BirdLife International. In order to avoid providing potentially misleading information, no data are displayed unless at least 5% of sites in the country, or a total of 20 sites (whichever is smaller), have been assessed.

Current status of IBAs

This information is based on both complete and partial site assessments (i.e. those with scores for one or two, but not all three, of state, pressure and response in a particular year).
nr. fav. = near favourable; unfav. = unfavourable; v. unfav. = very unfavourable. Grey bars indicate sample sizes, i.e. the number of completed site assessments per year.

Trends should be interpreted with caution because: (a) the number and subset of IBAs assessed may vary between years; (b) the number of parameters (State, Pressure, Response) for which each site is assessed may vary within and between years; and (c) the overall sample sizes may represent a small proportion, and potentially an unrepresentative subset, of all IBAs, particularly in some years. As more data are added into the BirdLife database, the trends will become more robust and reliable.

For queries or clarifications regarding the use of these data or to request access to the underlying data, please contact science@birdlife.org. For any publications making substantial use of the data, BirdLife International and BirdLife Partners welcome the opportunity for collaboration and to comment on interpretation.

The following case studies provide more information on how IBA monitoring data are being used:

• BirdLife Partners have developed a monitoring framework for IBAs worldwide
• In Kenya, IBA monitoring shows the value of formal protection for biodiversity conservation
• Effective IBA monitoring is vital and Africa is leading the way