The IBA Program is a global project to identify natural environments important for conservation using birds as the indicator species, and to protect and promote sustainable management of these areas. This unique BirdLife International program began in Europe in the 1980s and has since become a worldwide initiative. 2,298 sites have been designated as IBAs in Asia and a data book “Important Bird Areas in Asia” was published in 1994. As of 2005, over 10,000 sites have been designated as IBAs around the world.
