| 1985 | BirdLife International initiated the International IBA Program. |
| 1996 | An initial working list of 269 potential IBA sites was developed by BC Nature (Federation of BC Naturalists), Canadian Wildlife Service, BC Field Ornithologists, Wild Bird Trust of BC and others. |
| 1999 | BC Nature received a Millennium Grant to assist with funding an IBA Coordinator to develop conservation plans and materials. |
| 2000 | Somenos Marsh on Vancouver Island was the first BC IBA to be formally dedicated. |
| 2001 | Conservation Plans were published for 15 IBA sites around the province. View these Conservation Plans at www.ibacanada.ca. |
| 2001 | The Fraser River Estuary IBA, the most significant of all of Canada’s 597 designated areas, was dedicated at Crescent Beach. |
| 2002 | The Comox IBA was dedicated. |
| 2003 | The Seabird Survival brochure was published for southern Vancouver Island. |
| 2006 | The IBA program was reinvigorated with the initiation of a volunteer based Caretaker Network. |
| 2007 | The goal of recruiting caretakers for 50% of the IBA sites was surpassed! |
| 2008 | Caretakers were recruited for 90% of BC’s 84 IBAs! |
| 2008 | A technical BC IBA brochure was produced. |
| 2009 | An extensive IBA outreach project was initiated with support from Mountain Equipment Coop. |
| 2010 | A general BC IBA brochure was produced. |
| 2011 | A Canadian IBA Caretaker Manual was produced. |
| 2011 | Interpretive and identification signs were placed in 28 IBAs across BC (and more across Canada). |
| 2012 | Action planning was piloted in several Okanagan IBAs. |
| 2016 | New IBA identification signs placed in 5 more IBAs across BC. |
| 2016 | All BC IBA brochures updated. |
| 2016 | New & existing Caretakers (more than 60 volunteers) continue to monitor more than 90% of BC’s IBAs. |
| 2016 | The IUCN adopts the global standard for the identification of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) |
| 2017 | BC Nature begins a First Nations & IBA pilot program to find pathways for collaboration with First Nations on Bird monitoring |
| 2018 | K’ómoks First Nations participate in comprehensive monitoring of K’ómoks KBA |
| 2019 | Canada and NatureServe Canada become National Leads |
| 2021 | KBA Canada publishes a National Standard for KBAs in Canada to allow for National KBAs |
| 2022 | WCS Canada and BC Nature form a partnership to engage First Nations in KBAs in BC to ensure Indigenous input is given on each and every proposed KBA |
| 2022 | Canada’s first KBA is officially recognized, including Tofino Mudflats and Fraser River Estuary |
| 2022 | Partnering with the University of Victoria Birdwatching Club and with support from Birds Canada and BC Field Ornithologists, BC Nature supported a student volunteer initiative, working with Hesquiat First Nation Caretaker to conduct the first survey of Marbled Murrelet at Hesquiaht Lake Area IBA since it was last surveyed in 1997, collecting data needed to nominate this IBA to KBA status. |
| 2022 | BC Nature partners with Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation on comprehensive bird surveys in Kitasu Bay. This work aims at both recognizing it as a KBA for its global contribution to migratory birds and supporting the efforts to have Kitasu Bay become a Marine Protected Area |
| 2023 | A community survey of White Lake involving Caretakers, BC Nature Clubs and Volunteers – assessing each of the five South Okanagan IBAs |
| 2024 | With support from the Nisga’a and Kitsumkalum First Nations and BC Nature volunteers, a first-of-its-kind survey was conducted on the Nass and Skeena Rivers. Proving these rivers to be of enormous significance to the global gull populations. |
| 2025 | Chawkers Foundation and BC Nature being a pilot project with First Nations Caretakers to incorporate Indigenous stewards into the Caretaker monitoring network |
