The goal of the Important Bird Area (IBA) program, developed by Birdlife international, is the identify and conserve a worldwide network of sites necessary to ensure the long-term viability of naturally occurring bird populations using a set of criteria that are consistent with other IBA programs throughout the world.

 What is an IBA

IBAs are:
- critical sites, in different landscapes, globally important for the conservation of birds and biodiversity
- places of international importance
- practical targets for conservation action
- selected according to internationally recognised criteria
- used to reinforce existing protected area networks
- used as part of a wider approach to conservation

A main aim of the IBA Programme of BirdLife International is to attain protection for IBAs, and the provision of convincing bird data is an essential part of any argument for statutory protection. Importantly, the application of criteria to significant species, together with future data-gathering and the development of monitoring programmes, permit not only the assessment of changes in species’ numbers but also an examination of how these changes impact on the overall importance of the site, thus helping to guide the management and conservation of the area.

 Designation criteria

The selection of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) is achieved through the application of quantitative ornithological criteria, grounded in up-to-date knowledge of the sizes and trends of bird populations. The criteria ensure that the sites selected as IBAs have true significance for the international conservation of bird populations, but may be adapted by the Technical Advisory Comitee at the regional level.

A1. Globally threatened species

Criteria : The site qualifies if it holds a population of a threatened bird species categorized by the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable.

The regular presence of a Critical or Endangered species, irrespective of population size, at a site is sufficient for a site to qualify as an IBA. For Vulnerable species, the presence of more than 10 pairs or 30 individuals at a site is necessary to trigger selection. The site may also qualify under this category if holds more than 10 pairs or 30 individuals (non-passerines) and/or 30 pairs or 50 individuals (passerines) in the Near Threatened categories.

A2. Restricted-range species

Criteria : The site forms one of a set selected to ensure that, as far as possible, all restricted-range species of an Endemic Bird Area (EBA) or Secondary Area are present in significant numbers in at least one site and, preferably, more. The term 'significant component' is intended to avoid selecting sites solely on the presence of one or more restricted range species that are common and adaptable within the EBA and, therefore, occur at other chosen sites. Sites may, however, be chosen for one or a few species that would, e.g. because of particular habitat requirements, be otherwise under-represented.

Seventy percent of the restricted range species are also listed as theatened, demonstrating the relation between restricted range and the risk ofextinction. Other species as the Gray-green Fruit-dove, the Tahiti Kingfisher, the Marquesan Swiflet or the Tuamotu Reed-warbler are rather well represented. A significant number means that as many as possible of these species must be included in the IBAs.

A3. Biome-restricted species

Criteria : The site forms one of a set selected to ensure, as far as possible, adequate representation of all species restricted to a given biome, both across the biome as a whole and, as necessary, for all of its species in each range state. The 'significant component' term in the category definition is intended to avoid selecting sites solely on the presence of one or a few biome-restricted species that are common, widespread and adaptable within the biome and, therefore, occur at other chosen sites. Additional sites may, however, be chosen for the presence of one or a few species which would, e.g. for reasons of particular habitat requirements, be otherwise under-represented.

No biome has been identified in the Pacific region, so this criteria is not easily applicable. Therefore, because of the originality and reduced size of the islands of French Polynesia, all bird species will be covered by catégories A1, A2 and A4.

A4. Congregations

The congregatory species category covers sites that are important because they hold large concentrations of birds during one or more seasons, either breeding, wintering or migratory season. Marine, lacustrine, terrestrial, and sites over which raptors concentrate are included. Sites can qualify for a single species or under the general congregatory thresholds, at the global, continental or national levels as follows:

A4i - This applies to 'waterbird' species as defined by Delaney and Scott (2002) 'Waterbird Population Estimates' Third Edition, Wetlands International, and is modelled on criterion 6 of the Ramsar Convention for identifying wetlands of international importance. Depending upon how species are distributed, the 1% thresholds for the biogeographic populations may be taken directly from Delaney & Scott, they may be generated by combining flyway populations within a biogeographic region or, for those for which no quantitative thresholds are given, they are determined regionally or inter-regionally, as appropriate, using the best available information.

A4ii - This includes those seabird species not covered by Delaney and Scott (2002). Quantitative data are taken from a variety of published and unpublished sources.

A4iii - This is modelled on citerion 5 of the Ramsar Convention for identifying wetlands of international importance. Where quantitative data are good enough to permit the application of A4i and A4ii, the use of this criterion is discouraged.

A4iv - The site is known or thought to exceed thresholds set for migratory species at bottleneck sites. Thresholds are set regionally or inter-regionally, as appropriate.

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 IBA sites for French Polynesia

IBAs have been identified by BirdLife in Europe, in Africa and in the Middle East and inventories are in progress for Asia and Americas. This is why BirdLife International prepared a specific project for the Pacific which remained, in 2000, one of the last zones to be inventoried. The project, which amount 1 645 032 € is financed by the European Community to a total value of 78,8%. It is based in Suva, Fiji, with national programs in Palau, New Caledonia, Fiji and French Polynesia.

The Ornithological Society of Polynesia - Manu, affiliated member of BirdLife, ensures the implementation of the project locally. The government of French Polynesia takes finances a total value of 22% of the budget rising to 5 636 433 F CFP over 2 years. During 24 months the project in French Polynesia, employs national Coordonitor and an administrative secretary. It pays for Manu's office and its equipment as well as survey missions on the ground.

The program includes the following stages:
- bibliographic research;
- consultations with experts and the organizations holding datas;
- orientation and organization of surveys on the ground;
- compilation of descriptions and details related to the sites and production of charts;
- establishment and the maintenance of a data base;
- production of a national publication in the suitable languages;
- promotion of the conservation of the birds, fauna and the flora through the IBA process.

32 sites have been identified through that process in French Polynesia

Many other sites are potential candidates (Anuanuraro, Tikehau, Temoe, Eiao) but some have not been surveyed yet and others (Mehetia, Maiao, slopes of mont Paiha on Bora Bora, Kauehi, Tupai, Tekokota), which do not qualify under IBA criteria, are of interest for French Polynesia's natural heritage.

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