|  Some
sites are exceptionally important for maintaining the taxa dependent
upon the habitats and ecosystems in which they occur. Vigorous protection
of the most critical sites is one important approach to conservation.
Many bird species may be effectively conserved by this means.
Patterns
of bird distribution are such that, in most cases, it is possible
to select sites that support many species. These sites, carefully
identified on the basis of the bird numbers and species complements
they hold, are termed Important Bird Areas (IBAs). IBAs are selected
such that, taken together, they form a network throughout the species'
biogeographic distributions. This network may be considered as a
minimum essential to ensure the survival of these species across
their ranges should remaining habitat elsewhere be lost through
modification.
Birds
have been shown to be effective indicators of biodiversity in other
plant and animal groups. Thus, although defined by its bird fauna,
the conservation of the IBA network ensures the survival of a correspondingly
large number of other taxa. Sites
are selected using scientifically defensible, quantitative criteria,
but the IBA concept is pragmatic.
The
existing protected area network is taken fully into consideration
and will often form the backbone of the network with additional
sites proposed to fill in the gaps. Ideally, each site (or cluster
of sites) should be large enough to support self-sustaining populations
of as many of the species as possible for which it was identified
or, in the case of migrants, to provide their requirements throughout
their stay. Some
bird species are not amenable to conservation through a sites-based
approach and require different treatment. For others, the sites-based
approach needs to be combined with conservation measures in the
wider environment.
How
are they defined?
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