Proportion of IBAs that qualify as Ramsar sites that have been designated as such

BirdLife International (2001, 2002, 2005)

There are three global initiatives that promote the conservation and good management of particular sites: the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), the World Heritage Convention (WHC) and the Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme.

Although many Important Bird Areas (IBAs) meet the criteria for official recognition under these mechanisms—respectively as ‘Wetlands of International Importance’ (Ramsar Sites), World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves—so far only a small minority are benefiting from such status (Evans 1994, Heath and Evans 2000, Fishpool and Evans 2001, BirdLife International 2001, BirdLife International 2002, BirdLife International 2005; see figures). However, the documentation of sites as IBAs has helped to increase significantly that small proportion over the last 20 years, as legislators and planners increasingly use national IBA inventories in evaluating and improving the effectiveness of protected-area networks under their jurisdiction.