Testing absolute and percentage thresholds in the identification of key biodiversity areas

Just as quantitative criteria associated with the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species provide a benchmark of relative species extinction risk, criteria that identify ‘key biodiversity areas’ (KBAs, Eken et al., 2004) allow consistent recognition of sites with global significance for biodiversity conservation. Clearly, with habitat change ranking as the major threat worldwide (Baillie et al., 2004), site conservation approaches are urgently needed to stem the current extinction crisis (Boyd et al., 2008). This is articulated in the recently agreed 2020 strategic plan for the Conservation of Biological Diversity (http://www.cbd.int/decision/cop/id=12268), which sets explicit targets to stop extinction (Target #12) and to protect sites of particular significance for biodiversity (Target #11). Global recognition of sites of high biodiversity value assists managers when planning protected area networks, increases local ownership of and pride in natural heritage, and allows conservation and intergovernmental organizations to direct funding and focus activities at sites where needed most. The identification of KBAs and related critical areas for conservation has accelerated greatly in recent years through initiatives from civil society [e.g. the Alliance for Zero Extinction (http://www.zeroextinction.org)], international collaborations [e.g. the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative (http://openoceansdeepseas.org)] and the private sector [e.g. the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (https://www.ibatforbusiness.org)].The complex task of developing appropriate KBA criteria requires many tradeoffs (Bennun et al., 2007; Knight et al., 2007). First, a scale mismatch exists between the need to develop criteria through topdown decisions in order to allow repeatable assessment of patterns worldwide, and the bottomup need for criteria to be accepted and applied by local stakeholders who are responsible for onground actions. Second, criteria appropriate for one taxon may not be as appropriate for others, particularly if lifehistory traits are quite different. Third, quantitative thresholds associated with KBA criteria need to be established such that sites with real importance for global biodiversity conservation are not overlooked but at the same time the number of sites identified is not so excessive that the KBA currency devalues. The challenge of balancing these requirements has been mandated to a taskforce on ‘biodiversity and protected areas’, convened jointly by the IUCN Species Survival Commission and World Commission on Protected Areas (http://www.iucn.org/biodiversity_and_protected_areas_taskforce).

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