BirdLife International

Oil palm production has known negative effects on biodiversity. The conversion of native forests to oil palm causes local species extinctions, alters community composition, and reduces ecosystem function. Quantifying the extent of this conversion within sites of high conservation importance is crucial to identify conservation priorities, but such global data are currently lacking. Here, we quantify the extent of oil palm (derived from satellite remote sensing) in 3,025 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), within the global region suitable for growing oil palm. KBAs are areas identified for global biodiversity importance, but which do not necessarily benefit from protection. We found that oil palm is present in 8

A global standard for the identification of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) was published 10 years ago to provide a unified set of criteria for identifying 'sites of significance for the global persistence of biodiversity'. We review the initiative's origins, the KBA identification process, characteristics of the current network, threats, policy uptake, private sector applications and future priorities. KBAs are identified using criteria with quantitative thresholds relating to threatened or geographically restricted species or ecosystems, ecological integrity, biological processes, or irreplaceability. These criteria can be applied in terrestrial, inland water, marine and subterranean environments, and to all taxonomic groups. A total of 16,596 KBAs covering 22.1 million km2 has been identified, with 29% of these sites in marine and 26% in freshwater ecosystems. KBAs range from 0.001 km2 to 712,457 km2 in extent, with a median size of 141 km2 and a mean of 1,364 km2. Most (63%) qualify due to the globally threatened species they support, with 48% being important for biological processes and 39% for geographically restricted species. KBAs have been identified for 18,365 qualifying species in total, of which 37% are plants and 32% are birds. The most prevalent threats are biological resource use (hunting, logging, fishing, etc., impacting 40.8% of sites with available data), unsustainable agriculture (40.7%), human intrusions and disturbance (38.4%) and natural systems modifications (water management and fire; 33.4%). KBAs are important for delivering ecosystem services to people, both locally and globally. KBAs have had widespread impact in informing protected area designation in all regions. In total, 10,054 sites (62%) are covered completely or partially by protected areas. Hence, KBAs are highly relevant to Target 3 (and other targets) in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and to Sustainable Development Goals 14.5, 15.1, and 15.4. Indicators based on KBA data are therefore being used by the Convention on Biological Diversity and United Nations to track progress towards these targets. Many companies and financial institutions use KBAs to assess their exposure to nature-related risks and to identify opportunities for site-level, nature-positive actions. Future priorities include expanding and updating KBA assessments, and strengthening efforts to protect, conserve and safeguard these sites effectively.

Summary The endemic Green Avadavat Amandava formosa occurs within a restricted range in India and is categorised as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Ecological requirements of the species and the factors responsible for its highly localised distribution are not well understood. Surveys to establish its distribution and habitat requirements at Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan, a stronghold, were carried out during the non-breeding season (March–August 2023). Presence of the species using visual/vocal detection was recorded in 129 1×1 km 2 squares within the study area. In each square, percentage cover of grass and shrubs, the latter comprising three species ( Carissa spinarum and the invasive Lantana camara and Biancaea decapetala ), was recorded, along with mean altitude and survey duration time. The avadavat was detected in 40 of 129 surveyed squares mainly situated in the north and centre of the study area, but was absent around the periphery of the sanctuary (both at higher altitudes and in the foothills). The best-supported linear model (GLM) indicated that it is associated with areas with high percentage of grasses and shrubs at higher altitudes. These habitats are at increasing risk from sprawl and land-use change. Although invasive shrub vegetation such as Lantana and Biancaea tend to pose a threat to biodiversity, its removal from the sanctuary needs to be managed experimentally in order to gauge its value as cover for the avadavat.

The Timor green pigeon Treron psittaceus, endemic to Timor, Rote, and adjacent satellite islands (eastern Indonesia and Timor-Leste), is declining because of severe hunting pressure and forest conversion. During 2002-2025, we conducted > 1,400 field days of surveys throughout the species' range. Prior to 2000, most records were from Indonesian West Timor. Since 2000, most records (93%) and nearly all individuals (98%) have been observed in Timor-Leste, primarily within Lautem District. The scarcity of recent records throughout much of the species' range, including Camplong (last record 1991), Bipolo forest (last record 1999), elsewhere in West Timor (last record 2005) and Rote (four records of 1-2 birds during 2004-2013), suggests that only a small, declining population persists. The population in Indonesia is possibly nearly extinct (and probably functionally so), and that in Timor-Leste is predicted to be lower than current estimates suggest. We conservatively estimate the global population to be 100-500 individuals distributed across eight sites, and consider it plausible that the population size lies towards the lower end of this estimate. A population of > 50 birds is likely restricted to a single site, Nino Konis Santana National Park, underscoring the species' precarious status. We advocate for a reassessment as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Effective action plans are required in both Indonesia and Timor-Leste. In Lautem, community-based conservation efforts will be crucial to reduce hunting pressure. Further surveys should focus on Mount Timau (West Timor), and Lautem, Manatuto and Manufahi Districts (Timor-Leste).

Seabirds are exposed to numerous threats throughout their life-cycles, including land-based threats during their breeding season such as invasive species, diseases, or light pollution. Here we assess the timing, scope, and severity of land-based threats to populations of highly mobile petrels, albatrosses, storm-petrels, and alcids in the Atlantic Ocean, to guide priorities for their conservation across their mostly island-breeding areas. By combining our own field expertise of these species with a literature review, we built a dataset characterizing 18 threats for 49 species across 38 Large Marine Ecosystems. We analyze this dataset by highlighting the most impactful threats and the most impacted regions. Addressing invasive alien species on Tristan da Cunha & Gough and on the islands of the Canary Current are the interventions with the greatest potential to stimulate seabird population recovery across the Atlantic Ocean. Our results highlight priorities for targeted management actions that can support seabird conservation.