An Important Bird Area (IBA) is an internationally-designated site that is deemed one of the most important places on earth for birds to breed, feed, rest and overwinter.
The Manitoba Important Bird Area Program was initiated in the late 1990s when Bird Studies Canada (now Birds Canada) and Nature Canada began the process of identifying IBAs across all provinces and territories in Canada. In our province this process was led by Nature Manitoba.
Due to lack of funding this program didn't launch until 2012, but it is now a staple of NM-supported programs.