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BCnature Winter 202214New Partners, New Species, New Sites An Update on the IBA/KBA Program Author – Liam RaganWith so much happening on the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) front, I thought it would make sense for this sea-son’s IBA article to cover some of what’s been going on and keep the BC naturalist community abreast of what to expect in the coming months, how it can benefit their clubs, and how to get involved. First and foremost, we are proud to announce that KBAs have officially come to Canada! On October 3, at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, our national KBA part-ners from the Wildlife Conservation Society of Canada (WCS Canada), Birds Canada, and NatureServe Canada made the big announcement, with Environment and Climate Change Canada Minister Steven Guilbeault in attendance. As part of the launch, the team unveiled the KBA Canada database, which as of this writing includes Canada’s flagship 73 KBAs, as well as hundreds more currently in review (including many of our IBAs!). I strong-ly encourage all interested to check it out at kbacanada.org/explore/map-viewer/What does this mean for us here in BC? Aside from the seven already-designated KBAs, it means lots of work to come; beyond BC Nature’s shared job of crosswalking (mapping) our IBAs to KBAs, we’ve partnered with WCS Canada to ensure comprehensive outreach to all First Nations with potential KBAs in their territory. As many of you well know, there are around 200 different Indigenous groups in what is now B.C., so engagement at the provincial level is no small order. WCS Canada has stepped up in this regard and provided us with crucial capacity support which, combined with the funds already provided by BC Nature and other supporters, means we’re up to the task, with introductions already well underway and many, many more to come. Providing additional support is Birds Canada, whose new Indigenous Bird Conservation Coordinator, Alicia Krupek, is helping lead engagement with communities who they already work closely alongside. Together, we will work to ensure Indigenous communities have a say in the recognition of KBAs in their territories and recognize the role their stewardship plays in maintaining biodiversity, past, present and future. ΩBonaparte's Gull at the potential future Race Rocks KBA Photo: L. RaganWildResearch is looking for volunteers! WildResearch was founded in 2010 by a group of former SFU students from the Centre of Wildlife Ecology. To this day, we participate in citizen science initiatives while running the following programs: ¥ Iona Island Bird Observatory ¥ BC Marsh Monitoring Program ¥ Urban Raptor Monitoring Besides our programs, we provide training, workshops and field trips including: ¥ Identification workshops and day trips ¥ Resume-building workshops We are looking for engaged and inspired volunteers to help us build a more active citizen science community. To learn more, visit wildresearch.ca/get-involved or scan the QR code: