4. Important Bird Area and Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas
The IBAs serve as conservation areas for protection of birds at the global, regional or sub-regional level. According to Birdlife International, designation of IBAs is based on standardized criteria, namely
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Hold significant numbers of one or more globally threatened bird species,
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Be one of a set of sites that together hold a suite of restricted-range species or biome-restricted species
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Have exceptionally large numbers of migratory or congregation birds.
The IBAs contain a range of habitats, such as wetlands, mudflats, microhabitats in biodiversity hotspots, grasslands, scrublands and forests making them excellent indicators of biodiversity richness (India’s 5th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2014). To define Important Bird Areas, global standards and guidelines needs to be followed.
Specific guidelines:
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IBBAs existing outside forest areas mapped by FSI or PAs (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Reserved forests, etc.) can only qualify as OECMs.
Potential OECMs