Spain Establishes its National Coordination Group for Key Biodiversity Areas

Milestone
31/01/2024
spanish group

In December 2023, IUCN and SEO/BirdLife brought together scientific experts, representatives from scientific societies, universities, public administrations, and NGOs in Málaga to formally launch the process of identifying Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in Spain. The event was organised within the framework of the GaP Project, which supports national efforts to establish KBA National Coordination Groups in consortium countries and to identify and propose new KBAs.

The workshop focused on the KBA methodology and the process of identifying and delineating sites of global significance for biodiversity. During the event, participants agreed on the formation of the Spanish National Coordination Group (NCG) for KBAs and jointly adopted its terms of reference. SEO/BirdLife was designated as the coordinating institution for the first two years.

The Spanish KBA NCG is composed of 19 members, representing national botanical and zoological associations, as well as members of the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s (SSC) National Species Specialist Groups (NSSGs).

This milestone marks the beginning of a broader national effort to apply the KBA criteria across multiple biological groups. Next steps include additional taxonomic workshops, site assessments, and continued capacity building to strengthen Spain’s contribution to the global KBA network.


Members of the Spanish KBA National Coordination Group:

  1. Biodiversity Decisions
  2. National Species Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)
  3. IUCN Spanish Members Committee
  4. Iberian Society of Ichthyology (SIBIC)
  5. Spanish Association for the Conservation and Study of Bats (SECEMU)
  6. Spanish Herpetological Society (AHE)
  7. WWF Spain
  8. Spanish Society of Ethology and Evolutionary Ecology
  9. Association for the Study and Conservation of Elasmobranchs and Their Ecosystems (Catsharks)
  10. Spanish Entomological Society
  11. Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC)
  12. Spanish Society for Plant Conservation Biology (SEBICOP)
  13. Doñana Biological Station (CSIC)
  14. Independent Consultant
  15. SEO/BirdLife (Spanish Ornithological Society)
  16. KBA Expert Consultant
  17. IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation