Key Biodiversity Areas are sites that are remarkable in terms of their natural values, and hold species or ecosystems that depend on the sites for their persistence. You have been invited because you are involved in biodiversity science, conservation, or land management in Alberta, and may have been recommended by your colleagues in the province. We hope that you will consider attending the meeting and learning more about this new initiative. We hope that your participation will be useful and thought-provoking for furthering your own initiatives as well. This meeting is open to everyone, so please forward this email to anyone in your network who might be interested.

Meeting objectives:

• Build understanding of what KBAs represent, how they are identified and their relevance to land management and conservation
• Share information on the KBA process in Alberta, including approach, research and information needs, potential sites and species of interest, and opportunities for collaboration.

Meeting agenda:

Introduction to Canada’s KBA Program, Dr. Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne, Director, Canada Key Biodiversity Areas, WCS Canada

Results of scoping work, next steps, input needed, Michael Rudy, SK and AB KBA Coordinator, WCS Canada

Needs for identifying KBAs for threatened and rare ecosystems, Dr. Lucy Poley, KBA Ecosystem criteria coordinator, WCS Canada

KBA concept in the Beaver Hills Biosphere – Kelsie Norton, Beaver Hills Biosphere

Questions and discussion period on Alberta’s KBA process and opportunities for collaboration