From setting priorities to implementing action on the ground, our research ensures that our efforts are informed, impactful, and aligned with the latest insights. Our Partners conduct daily scientific monitoring on the ground, ensuring our work is informed by real-time data and insights.

As a recognised global authority on birds, BirdLife plays a vital role in the Red List Partnership. We coordinate the assessment of bird species against IUCN Red List categories and criteria, ensuring their level of extinction risk is accurately assessed.

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas

40 years ago, BirdLife began identifying the world’s most Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs). These are sites that are essential for the long-term survival of bird populations, and often other forms of biodiversity.  

BirdLife Partners have to date identified more than 13,500 IBAs across 200 countries and territories. This includes over 5,000 in Europe and Central Asia, and covers both terrestrial and marine environments.

These sites are at the heart of our conservation efforts. BirdLife Partners actively work to protect highly threatened IBAs from harmful development and ensure their ecological integrity is maintained for generations to come.

Building on this foundation, the concept of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) was introduced by IUCN, based on BirdLife’s criteria, to identify sites critical to the survival of all wildlife. The KBA Partnership, launched in 2016, brings together 13 leading conservation organisations, including BirdLife, to promote and safeguard KBAs globally.

Through monitoring, research, habitat restoration, public awareness campaigns, and advocacy for sustainable economic practices, the BirdLife Partnership is deeply committed to preserving IBAs and KBAs.

European Red List of Birds

The European Red List of Birds evaluates the extinction risk of all 544 bird species naturally occuring in Europe.

Our assessment follows the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria applied at the regional level. This assessment identifies each species’ status – ranging from Least Concern to Critically Endangered – and provides invaluable insights into their conservation needs.

This information informs environmental policies at both national and international levels, guiding decision-making and driving targeted conservation efforts on the ground. By highlighting the species most at risk, the European Red List empowers us to protect Europe’s birdlife and their habitats decisively.