By Faridat Salifu
The Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) Alliance has announced a record investment of $2.5 million in biodiversity data for the year 2024, more than doubling its 2023 commitment of $1.2 million.
The increased funding will directly support the maintenance and enhancement of three of the world’s most authoritative biodiversity datasets: the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), and the World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas (WDKBA).
These datasets, managed by IBAT Alliance partners, are essential for providing science-based data that enables accurate environmental risk screening, biodiversity reporting, and the implementation of conservation strategies.
IBAT, developed by a coalition of BirdLife International, Conservation International, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), serves as a key platform for biodiversity decision-making.
The 2024 investment also reflects rising engagement by the private sector, with over 200 businesses and financial institutions now using IBAT to integrate biodiversity data into operational planning and risk assessment.
According to the Alliance, the investment demonstrates how financial and corporate actors are increasingly valuing and supporting global biodiversity data as they align with frameworks such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
IBAT tools are being used by companies for early biodiversity risk screening, setting measurable nature goals, and assessing their impacts, dependencies, and exposure to biodiversity-related risks.
The 2024 funding has enabled the update and expansion of all three core datasets, resulting in substantial progress in mapping and assessing global biodiversity.
In 2024, more than 600 new Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) were identified, with a strong focus on previously underrepresented biodiversity-rich regions in South America and Africa.
The WDPA saw data updates in approximately 100 territories across all global regions, reflecting advances in conservation coverage and knowledge.
Nearly 170,000 species have now been assessed or reassessed for the IUCN Red List, with notable updates including the Iberian lynx’s status moving from Endangered to Vulnerable due to effective conservation interventions.
Red List assessments also contribute to public health by providing data on medicinal plants and tracking species that may carry zoonotic diseases.
IBAT Alliance partners report that the additional funds are also helping to strengthen data collection and management systems, improve accessibility, and expand collaboration with in-country data providers.
Ed Ellis, Head of IBAT, described the investment as “fantastic and inspiring,” emphasizing its role in updating biodiversity data and advancing global understanding of the health of ecosystems and species.
BirdLife International CEO Martin Harper noted that improvements to the functionality and user experience of the KBA database are already helping businesses make better-informed decisions that benefit nature.
IUCN Director General Dr. Grethel Aguilar highlighted that the Red List remains a critical tool for governments, scientists, and companies to track extinction risks and prioritize conservation resources.
Conservation International’s Chief Strategy Officer, Patricia Zurita, reaffirmed the private sector’s growing appetite for data-driven biodiversity action, calling IBAT a “key partner” in the move toward sustainability.
UNEP-WCMC Director Neville Ash added that protected area data accessed through IBAT is being widely used by governments and businesses to assess biodiversity risks and monitor progress toward international nature targets.
The Alliance confirmed that its expanded work will continue into 2025 and beyond, as it builds a more complete global picture of biodiversity to inform high-integrity, nature-positive outcomes.
