Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are sites of global bird conservation importance. Each IBA meets one of four global criteria used by BirdLife International. IBAs are priority areas for bird conservation - we aim to monitor birds at our IBAs, advocate their importance to government, and work with land-holders and other local people to conserve them.

In partnership with Rio Tinto, Birds Australia has identified and documented almost all of the Australian IBAs. The IBA section of the Birdata website contains background information on each IBA shown on the map.

Program Support 

Through a joint commitment to conserving Australia's biodiversity, Birds Australia and Rio Tinto have agreed to work together for three years to develop and implement the IBA program. The program will help Birds Australia deliver biodiversity conservation through building knowledge of birds and their threats, identifying solutions, and assisting policy makers and land managers to use this knowledge. For Rio Tinto, program outcomes will help deliver its biodiversity strategy in Australia. Rio Tinto has worked in other areas of the world to identify IBAs through its global partnership with BirdLife International.

Gouldian Finch watering hole next to Wyndham IBA (WA) © Guy Dutson

Melaleuca to Birch's Inlet IBA (TAS) © Guy Dutson

Map of Global IBAs (click to enlarge) By May 2008 7,678 global IBAs had been identified in 198 countries and territories