Applications of key biodiversity areas

Book excerpt: A large number of approaches have been developed over the last four decades for identifying places of significance for biodiversity, but unfortunately this requires looking at multiple, disconnected databases and other information sources to understand the sites of importance in a particular area. To address this issue and provide a coherent, global approach, IUCN was asked to convene a worldwide consultative process to agree on an overarching methodology to identify Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) -- sites that contribute significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity. A Joint Task Force on Biodiversity and Protected Areas was established to finalise a standard methodology for KBA identification. This report summarises findings from a two-year survey of existing and potential end-users of the KBA standard and, in particular, of the resulting KBA data generated under it. Implications for the development of the KBA standard are then outlined.