Identification of critical marine hotspots in West Africa – an opportunity for marine conservation

Key species help to identify key sites

Over the last four decades, the BirdLife Partnership has produced the foremost worldwide inventory of sites important for birds—the Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs). These sites have been identified on land and at sea using a standardized set of criteria. The approach has been so successful that it has now been extended to cover other taxa and been adopted as a global conservation standard known as Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). Through preserving these globally significant sites, African nations can achieve their Sustainable Development Goals and meet Aichi targets.

SOURCE Dias, M., Dossa, J. & Lecoq, M. 2016. Identification of marine Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas along the West African coast. Methodology and results. Alcyon project report. BirdLife International. Advanced version.

INTRODUCTION: The Importance of birds and biodiversity

Identification of critical marine hotspots in West Africa – an opportunity for marine conservation

Seabirds are among the most mobile creatures on earth. They may be born on land, but they spend their lives at sea. Some species carry out annual trips of over 100,000 km, returning year after year to breed. To thrive, they require safe places to breed, feed and rest. This is the case of West African waters – a key region for the conservation of various Arctic, European, West African and sub-Antarctic seabirds. Huge numbers congregate here to take advantage of the abundant small pelagic prey sustained by the upwelling system of the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem. Terns, skuas, gulls, shearwaters, storm-petrels and gannets abound here, sharing these waters with sea turtles and marine mammals.

Since 2014, using data collected and analyzed through the Alcyon project funded by the MAVA Foundation, BirdLife has identified the 13 most important foraging sites for seabirds as marine IBAs, covering 7,264,608 ha. This information is now being used to inform the designation of more marine protected areas and improve marine spatial planning. The Alcyon project has also provided the capacity and opportunity to advance spatial planning and manage threats, as well as proactive tools to help shape appropriate responses. By guiding West African governments on how to effectively conserve key species and sites, this approach is also aiding them to fulfil their CBD commitments and Aichi targets.

Marine IBAs identified by the Alcyon project

Marine IBAs identified before the Alcyon project

FIG 3: West African marine IBAs ©Maria Dias et al. 2016