Australia publishes first nationwide survey of Important Bird Areas

Shining flycatcher. Photo credit Chris Tzaros/Birds Australia

314 sites of global significance in Australia
From 2005-2009, the Important Bird Areas (IBAs) project designated 314 Australian sites of global significance for bird conservation. These sites encompass almost 44 million hectares of land, including IBAs in all Australian States and most Territories. Almost half of the area covered by Australia's IBAs has no existing formal protection.

"Until now, the scale of identifying sites of conservation significance has discouraged such projects in Australia," says Birds Australia CEO Graeme Hamilton. "The lack of mapped priority areas, especially those that are off-reserve, has been a hindrance to effective and cost-efficient conservation. The IBA project is the first national site-scale conservation analysis for our country."

800 bird species - 312 Endemics
Australia is home to 803 bird species, of which 312 are endemic; many of these birds are under threat. Four Australian bird species are Critically Endangered, 18 Endangered and 25 Vulnerable.

Graeme Hamilton says the breadth of ownership represented by the IBAs project provides a wealth of opportunity for communities, organisations, industry and all levels of government. "It gives us all the chance to become involved in the conservation and monitoring of Australia's birds in the places where it matters the most".