Conservation Tool

Key Biodiversity Areas

Among the most diverse places on Earth, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) contribute significantly to the planet’s biodiversity and overall health. These sites have proven to be a key tool for guiding decisions on conservation and sustainable management. 

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16,333

Description

Key Biodiversity Areas

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13,837

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trigger species 

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43%

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KBAs covered by protected and conserved areas, on average

KBAs have global value for conservation, due to their outstanding ecological integrity, globally important ecosystems or significant populations of animals, fungi and plants. It is essential to identify, map, monitor and conserve KBAs in order to safeguard these critical sites for nature.

The World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas. BirdLife International (2022). Developed by the KBA Partnership. Basemap: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, USDA FSA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community.

IUCN co-hosts the KBA Secretariat with Birdlife International. IUCN is also one of 13 global conservation organisations in the KBA Partnership, which supports nationally led efforts to implement the KBA Programme.

Get Involved

From the private-sector to governments and conservation practitioners, everyone whose actions and decisions have a potential impact on KBAs can support the KBA Programme.

Learn more and visit the KBA training course

How KBAs are used

KBAs ensure that conservation efforts are focused in the places that matter most. KBAs are used by governments in spatial and conservation planning to minimise biodiversity loss and negative impacts. The KBA dataset enables site based protection efforts - such as new protected areas - to be focused on the most important places for nature. It is used by the financial sector to ensure financial flows avoid nature's most fragile places. KBAs are also used by the corporate sector to ensure their impacts on biodiversity are avoided or reduced to the greatest extent possible. KBAs are being used by donors and NGOs to ensure conservation efforts are focused where they will have greatest impact for nature.

Featured Key Biodiversity Areas Resources