1. Important Bird Areas Program Connecting People and Birds

2. Why Birds? Ecological importance Millions of birders worldwide Even wider general public interest (1 in 5 US citizens) Birding is a major economic driver “Wildlife watching has become a major economic engine, making it one of the biggest money-makers in Washington State” Common Loon

3. Why an International Program? Birds know no borders IBAs – a global brand Heermann’s Gull

4. IBAs: A Global Network 1980s 11,000 sites in 200 countries Non-government, non-regulatory Program Goals: Identification Designation  Protection  Monitoring

5. Caretaker Network School education (A. Martell) Habitat restoration (M. Cuthbert) Interpretive signage (M. Dunn) Monitoring (T. Carr) Caretakers participate in a range of activities: