Status of the IBA program throughout the Americas
Following is a brief summary of the activities carried out to identify and conserve the IBAs in the Americas:
Region or Country |
|
Status |
|
Andes |
Bolivia |
A subregional IBAs Program that includes five Andean countries started in January 2003 in cooperation with Conservation International. 455 IBAs identified in the Tropical Andes region. The Directory Important Bird Areas of the Tropical Andes: Priority sites for bird conservation was published in 2005. |
|
Argentina |
|
273 IBAs identified in 18 ecoregions. Some specific on-the-ground conservation projects are in progress. The IBA directory for Argentina was published in 2005. |
|
Brazil |
|
In the Atlantic Forest 161 IBAs have been identified. An IBA directory for the region was published in March 2006 and launched at CBD COP 8 in Curitiba. Some specific on-the-ground conservation projects are underway. |
|
Canada |
|
A national IBA directory was published on the web in 1999. 597 IBAs identified. |
|
Caribbean |
Bahamas |
In 2002 with support from the MacArthur Foundation and UNEP-GEF, a subregional IBA Program was launched. In the Greater Antilles more 295 IBAs are identified. A subregional IBA directory will be ready by 2006. |
|
Falkland Islands/ Islas Malvinas |
22 IBAs identified. Directory to be published by 2006.
| |
|
Central America |
El Salvador |
A regional IBA program was initiated in November 2005, and the inventory is expected to be completed by October 2006. |
|
Mexico |
|
National IBA directory was published in 2000. 226 IBAs identified. |
|
Panama |
|
IBAs directory published in 2003. 49 IBAs of global importance are identified. In 2002, the Upper Bay of Panama IBA was declared as Ramsar site and in 2005 as a Hemispheric site of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN). |
|
Paraguay |
|
57 IBAs identified with the directory due to be published in 2006. Site conservation action underway at a number of them. |
|
United States |
|
New York (1998), Washington (2001) and Pennsylvania (2002) have published state IBA currently directories. There are 46 states working in the IBA Program. |
|
Uruguay |
|
IBA identification finished; 25 sites identified. Conservation action work with local government in progress. |
