ABS Conference 2024 - Pre-conference Workshop
Topic: Key Biodiversity Areas
Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are the most important places in the world for species and their habitats. Faced with a global environmental crisis, we need to focus our collective efforts on conserving the places that matter most. The KBA Programme supports the identification, mapping, monitoring and conservation of KBAs to help safeguard the most critical sites for nature on our planet–from rainforests to reefs, mountains to marshes, deserts to grasslands and to the deepest parts of the oceans. Sites can qualify as KBAs if they meet one or more of 11 criteria, clustered into five higher level categories: threatened biodiversity, geographically restricted biodiversity, ecological integrity, biological processes and irreplaceability. For further information on KBAs: https://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/.
The ABS will be working together with BirdLife Australia and the global KBA partnership to identify and declare KBAs for bats in Australia applying the global IUCN standard for KBAs. Two approaches will be taken. Firstly, existing KBAs will be reviewed and bats will be added as trigger species if/where applicable. Secondly, new areas will be put forward to be nominated as KBAs based on these being areas of significance for bats and when these meet the IUCN standards https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/49979.
To assist with this process, a workshop will be held on Tuesday 16 April, prior to the ABS Conference. Prior to the workshop, a review of current bat distribution maps and requirements for sites to be designated as KBAs will be undertaken by the ABS Conservation Officer (Michael Pennay) and ABS member Damian Milne (who has developed BatMap). As part of this process, potential new KBAs and additions to existing KBAs will be identified. The results of the review will be circulated as a data-package to attendees prior to the workshop along with a series of questions that will focus discussions during the workshop. At the workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to contribute by providing feedback on the pre-prepared data package and/or by nominating alternative KBAs.
All ABS members are welcome to attend the workshop, but to make the day as efficient and effective as possible, we ask that only those members who will actively contribute to discussions nominate their attendance. The workshop will be in person only. If you are unable to attend but want to contribute to developing KBAs, please contact Michael Pennay, Conservation Officer, [email protected].
The workshop will be held at the same venue as the conference, on 16 April 2024. There is no cost to attend the workshop.
Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are the most important places in the world for species and their habitats. Faced with a global environmental crisis, we need to focus our collective efforts on conserving the places that matter most. The KBA Programme supports the identification, mapping, monitoring and conservation of KBAs to help safeguard the most critical sites for nature on our planet–from rainforests to reefs, mountains to marshes, deserts to grasslands and to the deepest parts of the oceans. Sites can qualify as KBAs if they meet one or more of 11 criteria, clustered into five higher level categories: threatened biodiversity, geographically restricted biodiversity, ecological integrity, biological processes and irreplaceability. For further information on KBAs: https://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/.
The ABS will be working together with BirdLife Australia and the global KBA partnership to identify and declare KBAs for bats in Australia applying the global IUCN standard for KBAs. Two approaches will be taken. Firstly, existing KBAs will be reviewed and bats will be added as trigger species if/where applicable. Secondly, new areas will be put forward to be nominated as KBAs based on these being areas of significance for bats and when these meet the IUCN standards https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/49979.
To assist with this process, a workshop will be held on Tuesday 16 April, prior to the ABS Conference. Prior to the workshop, a review of current bat distribution maps and requirements for sites to be designated as KBAs will be undertaken by the ABS Conservation Officer (Michael Pennay) and ABS member Damian Milne (who has developed BatMap). As part of this process, potential new KBAs and additions to existing KBAs will be identified. The results of the review will be circulated as a data-package to attendees prior to the workshop along with a series of questions that will focus discussions during the workshop. At the workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to contribute by providing feedback on the pre-prepared data package and/or by nominating alternative KBAs.
All ABS members are welcome to attend the workshop, but to make the day as efficient and effective as possible, we ask that only those members who will actively contribute to discussions nominate their attendance. The workshop will be in person only. If you are unable to attend but want to contribute to developing KBAs, please contact Michael Pennay, Conservation Officer, [email protected].
The workshop will be held at the same venue as the conference, on 16 April 2024. There is no cost to attend the workshop.
