Key Invertebrate Areas

Australia is home to an extraordinary diversity of invertebrates, yet we still know remarkably little about where the most important places for their conservation are. While globally recognised Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) identify sites of exceptional importance for biodiversity, invertebrates have historically been underrepresented in these assessments due to limited data and a lack of coordinated national effort.

Invertebrates Australia is leading the development of Australia’s first Key Invertebrate Areas (KIA) Initiative. This national project is identifying places of exceptional importance for threatened, endemic and range-restricted invertebrates using the internationally recognised KBA Standard and the best available biodiversity data.

By bringing together museum collections, citizen science records, threatened species data and expert knowledge, the project will identify priority landscapes that support Australia’s most significant invertebrate populations. These areas will help guide future conservation planning, habitat protection, ecological restoration and biodiversity investment.

The KIA Initiative is more than a mapping exercise. It is creating the scientific foundation needed to ensure invertebrates are considered alongside plants and vertebrates in conservation decisions, helping governments, land managers, conservation organisations and communities protect the places that matter most.

As the initiative grows, KIAs will support threatened species recovery, identify opportunities for protected area expansion, inform environmental policy, and strengthen Australia’s contribution to the global KBA network. Ultimately, the project aims to ensure that the extraordinary diversity of Australia’s invertebrates is recognised, valued and protected for future generations.