1. Important Bird Areas Program Caretakers and Conservation

2. An International Program Birds know no borders IBAs – a global brand Heermann’s Gull

3. Global Network, Local Action 1980s 11,000 sites in 200 countries Non-government, non-regulatory 4 standard criteria Species at Risk e.g. Lewis’s Woodpecker (R. Howie) Congregations e.g. Dunlin (M. Lemon)

4. IBAs in Canada: Goals Identification – 274 BC sites in 1996-1999 Designation – 84 BC sites in 2000 (~600 across Canada)  Protection  Monitoring Monitoring (K. Englund)

5. Global Monitoring & Action

6. Key to Success: Caretaker Network

7. BC IBA Caretaker Network School education & monitoring (A. Martell) Habitat restoration (M. Cuthbert) Interpretive signage (M. Dunn) Original duties: 1.Update Site Summary 2.Monitor & report 3.Notify of threats 4.Raise awareness Many other activities!

8. Timeline & Recent Developments 1996-9sites nominated all across Canada 2000-1600 IBAs designated; cons. plans written some 2006Caretaker Network initiated in BC (& Quebec) 2008Caretakers recruited for 90% of BC’s 84 sites 2009BC IBA program initiated outreach project; National Caretaker Program established 2011-2National IBA materials developed; spread to all prov. 2013Focus on increasing Caretaker capacity & networking

10. How to Support the IBA Program Increase your awareness www.ibacanada.ca www.bcnature.ca/projects/iba www.naturecanada.ca Like us on Facebook (IBA Canada) Enter observations into eBird.ca Participate in bird monitoring, provide data or expertise Use & disseminate information (signs, websites) Endorse the IBA program, support protection/mgt Yellow Warbler (Ian Routley)

11. The BC IBA Program has been supported by generous funding and support from numerous organizations and tireless efforts from many volunteers throughout BC. The template for this slide show was created by Nature Canada. We gratefully acknowledge the use of photographs by Carla Ahern, Krista Englund, Suzanne Huot, Alan Burger, Dick Cannings, Terry Carr, Margaret Cuthbert, Peter Davidson, Christopher DiCorrado, Michael Dunn, Burr Heneman, Ian Jones, Marilyn Lambert, Moira Lemon, Art Martell, Tom Middleton, Ian Routley and Nature Canada. Acknowledgements FEDERATION OF BC NATURALISTS