Audubon's Important Bird Area Program
Arkansas' First IBA Site.
What are its goals?
Part of a global effort to strengthen bird populations, the
Important Bird Area (IBA) Program will aid dozens of vulnerable
bird species by identifying, monitoring and protecting the
most significant bird habitats in the state.
Founded and supported by Audubon Arkansas,
the statewide initiative is led by a 19-member volunteer team
of experts who are either state and federal agency staff members
or private citizen-scientists. The proactive IBA Program works
collaboratively and on a voluntary basis with communities,
conservation groups, and landowners, both private and government,
to
o reverse the loss and fragmentation of important bird
habitat in the state;
o protect and create significant bird habitat (often
through restoration or by bringing more land into public ownership);
o increase public knowledge, volunteerism, advocacy
and financial support for habitat conservation in the state.
How will it work in Arkansas?
The IBA Program is bringing together the primary actors in
conservation in Arkansas to build public support and volunteerism
for habitat protection. Primary state partners in efforts
to decrease habitat loss are the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
and the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. The 19-member
IBA Technical Committee establishes criteria for IBAs, reviews
nominations for IBAs, names those areas qualifying as IBAs,
and assists with creating and implementing plans for protecting
IBAs. Techniques for protecting IBAs include monitoring, protecting
and, in some cases, restoring IBAs (e.g., through tree planting
or water quality projects).
Volunteer teams assist with habitat protection
by helping monitor and restore IBAs. Audubon's scientists
on staff provide technical assistance and support with implementation
to the IBA team and to volunteers. Audubon staff is also developing
public support for habitat protection through a communications
and fundraising campaign.
Why is it important?
On the Mississippi flyway, Arkansas is home to great populations
of important migratory songbirds and waterfowl, including
Trumpeter Swans. The endangered Red-cockaded woodpecker is
known to inhabit several areas, and the least tern breeds
on Arkansas' river sandbars. Less than 15% of lands in Arkansas
are in the public domain, therefore, voluntary cooperation
by private landowners is critical to a successful program.
The IBA program has proved highly effective in similar situations
elsewhere. Its implementation in Arkansas can realize a much
greater level of protection for bird populations and endangered
species in the state. While there are other active habitat
conservation efforts in Arkansas, there is no other single
program that brings together state, federal and private organizations
to collaborate using a comprehensive approach that identifies
and works to protect important bird habitat statewide.
Why Audubon?
Appropriately, Audubon is taking the leadership role in the
IBA program in Arkansas. Founded in 1905, The National Audubon
Society is currently supported by 600,000 members and over
500 chapters in the Americas. Founded by a grant from the
Winthrop Rockefeller Charitable Trust in May of 2001, Audubon
Arkansas is the 25th State Office of the National Audubon
Society. Audubon Arkansas has developed a number of partnerships
in support of environmental restoration and education with
critical public and private supporters. The state office is
supported by 3,400 members.
What we hope to achieve by 2003
Objectives for the first year include:
o Establishment of a sound, sustainable IBA program.
o Fifteen to twenty-five IBAs targeted for protection efforts.
o Monitoring and protection plans created and beginning to
be implemented on at least half of IBAs identified.
o Effective landowner contact program established.
o New funds developed.
o Public volunteerism and financial support increased for
bird habitat.
As soon as possible in the first year, the
state Audubon office will work with its eight chapters and
at least three other state birding organizations to begin
active monitoring and conservation work for some or all of
the IBAs.
For more information on the IBA program in
Arkansas, contact our office at (501) 244-2229 or email arkansas@audubon.org.
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