Key biodiversity areas (KBAs) in rangelands globally

Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are 'sites contributing significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity’, in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. The Global Standard for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas (IUCN 2016) sets out globally agreed criteria for the identification of KBAs worldwide. This map shows the distribution of KBAs in rangelands.

Identifying KBAs is an essential step towards enabling effective conservation and development decisions. With many countries still in the process of analysis, the data is likely to be an underestimation – many sites in rangelands may well meet the KBA criteria but have not yet been officially identified as KBAs. As KBA identification in rangelands becomes more complete, the below data can be updated.

Key facts

1. Confirmed key biodiversity areas (KBAs) in rangelands cover 1,341,354 km², that is nearly 1% of global terrestrial surface.

2. Of rangelands worldwide, 1.7% are classified as confirmed key biodiversity areas (KBAs) – that is 1,341,354 km² of total rangeland area of 79,509,421 km².

Statistics

No	KBA status	Area km²
1	Candidate	6,673.30
2	Confirmed	1,341,354.35
3	De-listed	13,683.77
4	Does not qualify	172.42
5	Proposed	1,218.43
6	Superseded	4,832.28
	Total	1,367,934.55

Source

Source1: Terrestrial ecoregions of the world. Downloaded in 2021 from: https://globil-panda.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/wwf-priority-35-ecoregions?geometry=-172.266%2C-86.819%2C172.266%2C89.233. Original source: Olson, D. M., Dinerstein, E., Wikramanayake, E. D., Burgess, N. D., Powell, G. V. N., Underwood, E. C., D'Amico, J. A., Itoua, I., Strand, H. E., Morrison, J. C., Loucks, C. J., Allnutt, T. F., Ricketts, T. H., Kura, Y., Lamoreux, J. F., Wettengel, W. W., Hedao, P., Kassem, K. R. 2001. Terrestrial ecoregions of the world: a new map of life on Earth. Bioscience 51(11):933-938

Source 2: BirdLife International (2017). Key Biodiversity Area digital boundaries. Version (2016-4). Derived from the World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas. Developed by the KBA Partnership (BirdLife International, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Amphibian Survival Alliance, Conservation International, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Global Environment Facility, Global Wildlife Conservation, NatureServe, Royal Society for the Conservation of Birds, Wildlife Conservation Society and World Wildlife Fund). Available at www.keybiodiversityareas.org.

Downloaded in 2019 from: https://wwf-sight-maps.org/arcgis/rest/services/Global/KBAs/MapServer

China

The contribution of key biodiversity areas (KBAs) to the protection of rangelands in China

Imagine China

China is a vast country covering 9,562 km² and the world’s most populous country with more than 1.4 billion inhabitants. Because of its variety of ecosystems - grassland, desert, mountain ranges, lakes and rivers - China is home to a rich variety of wildlife, including the giant panda, wild yaks, snow leopards, the Tibetan antelope and the Tibetan gazelle. China is also home to a diversity of people, cultures and livelihoods. In Western China, many ethnic minority groups contribute to the conservation of the vast grassland environment through their traditional pastoral management systems, such as the multi-species grazing system by the Tibetan nomads. In addition to a diversity of herds, traditional nomadic pastoralism is characterised by complex herd structures, regulated movements of livestock in rangeland sites and a connection with farmers, which has helped maintain the rangeland ecosystems over time.

KBAs are sites contributing significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity. There are 16,315 KBAs worldwide, and 668 KBAs in mainland China, covering an area of 1,149,679 km². Threats to KBAs include: agriculture and aquaculture, biological resource use, energy production and mining, human disturbance, invasive species and diseases, residential and commercial development, and transportation. These activities also contribute to increasing the number of species threatened by extinction.

In China, nature reserves protect these vulnerable habitats, like the Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve. This reserve is located in the Sanjiangyuan area, which means ‘’the origin of three rivers’’, the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang (Mekong) rivers, and is home to Tibetan nomadic herders. The reserve was classified as a KBA in 2009, because it is a biodiversity hotspot with natural habitats ranging from montane forest to cold alpine grassland and desert. However, human activities have affected the integrity of the reserve. China is currently strengthening the management and biodiversity conservation of nature reserves through the creation of a new system of national parks and protected areas, and piloting 12 national parks, including Sanjiangyuan. The management of this new national park will allow herders and farmers to combine sustainable livestock grazing with wildlife protection and is expected to create jobs and improve the incomes of local communities.

For more information see: https://www.iucn.org/regions/mediterranean/our-work/biodiversity-knowledge-and-action/biodiversity-standards-and-indicators/key-biodiversity-areas