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The Shoalhaven on the NSW south coast is home to an amazing variety of birds and is a mecca for birdwatchers.
BirdLife Shoalhaven promotes a better understanding of our birds and works tirelessly to ensure their survival.





Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)

Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) are "sites contributing significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity", in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems.

click to increase and decrease size The Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) program is the successor and extension of BirdLife Australia's Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs). KBAs are designed to expand the IBA success story to include all biodiversity, thereby strengthening the level of advocacy for protected areas. A Global Standard for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas was launched by BirdLife International and ten other leading conservation NGOs in September 2016. Critically, the KBA Standard provides consistency between areas across the globe, to assist governments meeting their conservation obligations under various international treaties.

On the local scale, our branches and KBA volunteers are stepping up for the conservation of birds and their habitats, while on a national level, BirdLife Australia is building on the legacy of the IBA project to promote KBA protection and appropriate management. To achieve this we use the data collected by KBA Guardians as well as information submitted to BirdLife Australia's Birdata website. We also use the data to advocate for the strategic expansion of protected-area networks.

Each KBA has a Guardian - a concerned individuals who monitors the health of the KBA and reports on it to BirdLife Australia once a year. In 2016, BirdLife Australia started the Easter Health-check for KBAs. The Easter Health-check takes an annual snapshot of the threat and conservation actions of the areas that matter most to birds and wildlife, and this allows BA to compare the results between KBAs, both across Australia and around the globe. The results are extremely valuable, especially where surveys indicate a species decline, providing the "smoking gun" BA needs to target its conservation work.

The main task of a KBA Guardian is to complete the annual IBA Easter Health-check, but many have also chosen to become more involved in the conservation of their KBA. KBA Guardians do not need to be bird experts; in fact we very much encourage anyone with an interest in the environment to bring their skills to the KBA program and consider becoming a KBA Guardian.

There are over 18,000 KBAs scattered across the globe. Australia has 315 KBAs. The Shoalhaven has 4 KBAs - click the links below for more information.

Jervis Bay KBA
Jerrawangala KBA
Lake Wollumboola KBA
Budderoo and Barren Grounds KBA
Ulladulla to Merimbula KBA