# Important bird areas of international importance (IBA) A thematic map of the Atlas of Switzerland, the national atlas published by ETH Zurich. The map is drawn in the browser; this file describes it and lists its variants and links, but not the data values shown on the map. - Map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/important-bird-areas-of-international-importance-iba/ - Short title: Important bird areas (IBA) - Map id: 127 - Categories: Landscape and Space › Landscapes/Habitats › Protected areas - Keywords: Animals, Environmental monitoring, Nature conservation - Published: 2016-05-31 - Last revised: 2017-11-06 - Content language: English - Other languages: [Deutsch](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/de/thema/vogelschutzgebiete-von-internationaler-bedeutung-iba.md), [Français](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/fr/theme/zones-pour-la-conservation-des-oiseaux-dimportance-internationale-iba.md), [Italiano](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/it/tema/aree-ornitologiche-importanti-di-rilevanza-internazionale-iba.md) ## Description An effective way of conserving birds is to conserve their habitats. BirdLife's Important Bird Area (IBA) Programme identifies sites that are particularly important and representative. The objective of the programme is – in each country – to protect the sites with the bird species for which the country in question has special responsibility from an international point of view. The programme takes account not only of only breeding birds but also of concentrations of visiting birds. Sites are selected as IBA sites for threatened species of birds on the basis of the high concentrations of birds and for the unique species found there, and because these sites are representative of distinct habitats. Approximately 12,000 IBAs have been identified worldwide, and 31 sites in Switzerland have been designated as fulfilling the IBA criteria. ## Sources - BirdLife Schweiz (2015): [IBAs - Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas](http://www.birdlife.ch/de/iba) ## Data sources - BirdLife Schweiz (2015): [IBAs - Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas](http://www.birdlife.ch/de/iba) ## Data owners - [Swiss Ornithological Station](http://www.vogelwarte.ch) - [BirdLife SVS Schweiz](http://www.birdlife.ch/) ## Citation The terms of use ask to name the Atlas of Switzerland and the data owners, and to keep the source references in exports, screenshots and embeds. Cite the map as: > Atlas of Switzerland (2017): Important bird areas of international importance (IBA). ETH Zürich. Map data © Swiss Ornithological Station, BirdLife SVS Schweiz. https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/important-bird-areas-of-international-importance-iba/ ## Links The map opens at its full extent; a link cannot set the map position. - Map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/important-bird-areas-of-international-importance-iba/ - Short link, stays valid when the title changes: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/t/127/ - Side by side with another map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/comparison/?lt=127&rt={id of the other map}&ru={u of the other map, or leave out} Embed in another website (allowed by the terms of use, as long as the source references stay visible): ```html ``` In the embed URL, `dm` sets what is shown: `e` the map with its title bar (default), `p` also the values of an object clicked on the map, `m` only the map with a button that opens it in the atlas. `ig=1` (default) lets the map react to scrolling and dragging only after a click into it, `ig=0` right away. The size can be changed in `style`. ## Maps to compare with - [Emerald sites: valuable habitats with a unique fauna and flora](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/emerald-sites-valuable-habitats-with-a-unique-fauna-and-flora.md) (id 271) For the use and citation of maps and data, see the [terms of use](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/terms-of-use/).