The first e-Atlas of Important Areas for the Conservation of Marine Birds (IBA) has been presented by SEO/BirdLife during the Conference of the Parties (COP11), a project developed by BirdLife partners, scientists and institutions, which is already emerging as a key tool for the protection of the marine environment, collaborating in management and planning tasks. This inventory has more than 3,000 seabirds globally and will help in protection efforts.

Seabirds are already the most threatened group of birds, accounting for 38% of the total of 346 threatened species. A situation caused by threats such as fishing, the installation of infrastructure or pollution. Certain areas are preferential because they are located next to colonies or as prominent migratory corridors, so they deserve greater attention.

Thanks to the European LIFE projects, the first inventory of Spanish marine IBAs was already created between 2004 and 2009, under the direction of SPEA, which made it possible to establish the methodological guidelines to be followed for the creation of this first e-Atlas. This first inventory was a reference for the proposal of the Special Protection Areas for Marine Birds (SPAs) presented in October last year by the Spanish government.