Transcript Slide 1
The Important Bird Areas Program Connecting People and Birds Who We Are • Bird Studies Canada: www.birdscanada.org • • Nature Canada: www.naturecanada.ca • • Advance the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of wild birds and their habitats through studies that engage members, volunteers, &the public Karen Barry & Pete Davidson (BSC) Protect and conserve wildlife and habitats in Canada by engaging people and advocating on behalf of nature BC Nature: www.bcnature.ca • • Federation of BC Naturalists Motto: To Know Nature and To Keep It Worth Knowing Krista Englund & Anne Murray (BCN) Why Birds? • • • • • Ecological importance Spiritual/cultural significance Millions of birders worldwide Even wider general public interest (1 in 5 US citizens) Birding is a major economic driver Herring season in Baynes Sound IBA (A. Martell) “Wildlife watching has become a major economic engine, making it one of the biggest money-makers in Washington State” Why an International Program? • • Birds know no borders IBAs – a global brand Western Sandpiper (Tom Middleton) IBAs: A Global Network • • • • Global, nearly 200 countries Site-based (11,000) Non-government, non-regulatory Progress indicator (UN) Goals: Identification Designation Protection Monitoring IBA Criteria 1. Globally threatened species • Marbled Murrelet (Alan Burger) Marbled Murrelet (Barkley & Desolation Sound) 2. Breeding, wintering grounds and/or White-tailed Ptarmigan (Scott Wilson) migratory bird concentrations • Fraser River Estuary, Tofino Mudflats, McIntyre Beach, Douglas Lake Plateau Shorebirds (Moira Lemmon) 3. Birds with restricted breeding ranges (not in Canada) 4. Biome restricted assemblages (not in Canada) Sandhill Crane IBAs: The Canadian Picture • • • 597 IBAs designated 1997-2001 Site nomination & review process a collaborative effort between EC-CWS, BSC & Nature Canada (BC Nature) Coastal habitats & interior wetlands key IBAs in British Columbia • • Seabird colony (M. Lambert) • • • Boundary Bay (M. Cuthbert) 269 sites nominated 84 sites designated 80% coastal Over 50% marine/island 16 sites in BC’s interior Species at Risk (SAR) in BCs IBAs • • 86% of IBAs support 1+ provincial SAR 64% of IBAs provide habitat for 1+ SARA species Endangered (7 spp.) Burrowing Owl Sage Thrasher Spotted Owl Western Screech-Owl macfarlanei White-headed Woodpecker Williamson’s Sapsucker Yellow-breasted Chat Threatened (2 spp.) Marbled Murrelet Pink-footed Shearwater Special Concern (8 spp.) Ancient Murrelet Barn Owl Flammulated Owl Great Blue Heron fannini Lewis's Woodpecker Long-billed Curlew Peregrine Falcon pealei Short-eared Owl Sage Thrasher (Dick Cannings) Conservation & Protection • • In Canada ~ 25% of IBAs overlaps protected area (PA) & conservation lands (same in BC) IBA Program goal is to increase conservation through: • • • • • • Supporting PA designations 0.4% Regional Parks 1% National Conservation Lands 0.2% Planning integration Local regulations Parks 22% Provincial Parks 77% Unprotected Stewardship & management Public education & outreach Partnerships are key! Courtesy of Pacific Coast & Canadian Intermountain Joint Ventures Not included: Municipal Parks; some MBS, NWA, WMA & fee simple lands Pressures on BC’s IBAs Pollution (67%) Habitat Loss/Alteration (54%) Invasive species (33%) Disturbance (50%) Rat with Auklet (I. Jones) Current Activities in BC: BSC Technical Partner: www.ibacanada.ca, online tools, mapping/GIS, bird monitoring & data management (ebird.ca) Current Activities in BC: BC Nature Leads the stewardship side: Volunteer Caretaker Network Interpretive signage (M. Dunn) Habitat restoration (M. Cuthbert) School education (A. Martell) “Eyes, ears & hands on the ground” Monitoring (T. Carr) Caretaking: a collective effort • • IBAs are large! Caretakers need support: • • • Help monitor & steward Enter data into eBird Spread the word ENTER YOUR IBA Your iba Flammulated Owl (Dick Cannings) How to Support the IBA Program • • • • • • • Increase your awareness Enter observations into eBird.ca Use & disseminate information (signs, websites) Incorporate IBAs in planning & review (GIS) Yellow Warbler (Ian Routley) Endorse the IBA program/support protection/mgt Provide data/technical expertise Support Caretakers or become one! IBAs Can Support Your Work • Stewardship & Monitoring • • • Capacity/coordination for work Technical resources & Information • • • • Caretakers & local communities www.ibacanada.ca Mapping (GIS) and bird data Information for signage/brochures Friends of Semiahmoo Bay (Marg Cuthbert) Support & Connections • • Letters for advocacy & fundraising Links to National-International partners (eg. BirdLife) Acknowledgements The BC IBA Program has been supported by generous funding and support from numerous organizations and tireless efforts from many volunteers throughout BC. FEDERATION OF BC NATURALISTS The template for this slide show was created by Nature Canada. We gratefully acknowledge the use of photographs by Kris Andrews, Alan Burger, Dick Cannings, Terry Carr, Margaret Cuthbert, Peter Davidson, Christopher DiCorrado, Eva Durance, Michael Dunn, Burr Heneman, Sharon Henry, Ian Jones, Marilyn Lambert, Moira Lemon, Art Martell, Tom Middleton, Sandy Proulx, Ian Routley, Scott Wilson and Nature Canada.