Important Bird Area

An Important Bird Area (IBA) is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed by BirdLife International. In the United States the Program is administered by the National Audubon Society. See Important Bird Areas Program, A Global Currency for Bird Conservation, Audubon International. IBAs are determined by an international... more

An Important Bird Area (IBA) is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed by BirdLife International. In the United States the Program is administered by the National Audubon Society. See Important Bird Areas Program, A Global Currency for Bird Conservation, Audubon International. IBAs are determined by an internationally-agreed set of criteria. Specific IBA thresholds are set by regional and national governing organizations. To be listed as an IBA, a site must satisfy at least one of the following rating criteria: The site qualifies if it is known, estimated or thought to hold a population of a species categorized by the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. In general, the regular presence of a Critical or Endangered species, irrespective of population size, at a site may be sufficient for a site to qualify as an IBA. For... less