Key Biodiversity Area conservation in a post-2020 world 

This session on Key Biodiversity Area conservation in a post-2020 world, held on 6th September 2021, focused on the importance of identifying Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) nationally. It showed why mapping KBAs will contribute to more effective and efficient conservation, and encourage countries around the world to engage in KBA assessments and how they contribute to the implementation and outcomes of a post 2020 agenda.

The Global Standard for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) was agreed and published in 2016 and launched at the WCC in Hawaii. At the same time 11 global conservation organisations came together to establish the KBA Partnership which has since grown to 13 institutions. This session highlighted the growing engagement of countries around the world in identifying KBAs at a national scale. The relevance of KBAs to global conservation, the CBD, and SDGs were demonstrated along with why KBAs should be a crucial component of the post2020 Global Biodiversity Framework agenda.

Ms. Chloé Debyser - Technical Coordinator at WCS Canada presenting the work of the Canadian KBA Coalition

On behalf of the KBA Canada Secretariat, Chloé Debyser - Key Biodiversity Areas Canada Technical Coordinator at WCS Canada presented the work that the Canadian KBA Coalition is undertaking to identify all of Canada’s KBAs, including why they do this work, what exactly they are doing, how it’s being done, and their progress to date. Other presenters included the KBA National Coordination Groups for South Africa, Australia, and Mozambique, as well as the Global KBA Secretariat. There was also a presentation by the International Finance Corporation on how the finance sector is using KBAs to guide investment decisions. 

Panel 

• Dr. Andy PLUMPTRE, Head KBA Secretariat, BirdLife International
• Dr. Daniele BAISERO, Data Analyst, KBA Secretariat
• Ms. Lize VON STADEN, Senior scientist, South African National Biodiversity Institute
• Ms. Chloé DEBYSER, Key Biodiversity Areas Canada Technical Coordinator, WCS Canada
• Mr. Conrad SAVY, Biodiversity Lead: Africa & Middle East, International Finance Corporation 

Moderator 
Ms. Melanie HEATH, Director - Science, Policy and Information, BirdLife International