Criteria for the Definition of Conservation Areas
(as of April 9, 2003)

An AZE site must meet all three criteria:

1. Endangerment. An AZE site must contain at least one Endangered (EN) or Critically Endangered (CR) species, as listed by IUCN - World Conservation Union.

2. Irreplaceability. An AZE site should only be designated if it is the sole area where an EN or CR species occurs, or contains the overwhelmingly significant known resident population of the EN or CR species, or contains the overwhelmingly significant known population for one life history segment (e.g., breeding or wintering) of the EN or CR species.

3. Discreteness. The area must have a definable boundary within which the character of habitats, biological communities, and/or management issues have more in common with each other than they do with those in adjacent areas.

   Guidance Notes on Application of Criteria

   1. Endangerment
   •  AZE recognizes IUCN as the listing authority for defining species of concern. 
   • AZE will not define sites for newly-discovered and Data Deficient species until these have been assessed and classified by the relevant IUCN authority to avoid the development of a parallel assessment process. Neither will AZE address species that are currently considered subspecies or Vulnerable, but will encourage groups with an interest in addressing such species and subspecies to do so (e.g., through the Important Bird Areas program). However, any species regarded as Vulnerable that do occur within AZE sites will also be noted to support the need for conservation in those areas.
   • For those species considered Endangered or Critically Endangered for which no specific site can currently be selected for lack of data, AZE encourages expeditions to locate populations in hopes that a site can be selected at a later date. 
   • AZE recognizes that not all Endangered and Critically Endangered species are so site-restricted. Although such wider-ranging species are important conservation targets that are deserving of conservation resources, they are not the targets of this particular conservation initiative.
   • Species listed by the IUCN as Extinct in the Wild (EW) are included. An AZE site for an EW species should be the most viable potential site for reintroduction, with a strong preference toward sites within the natural historic range of occurrence. This may not be the most recently occupied site. EW sites will be presented in maps in a way that highlights their unique situation.
     
     
   2. Irreplaceability
   • AZE recognizes that even when an overwhelmingly significant proportion of a species' wild population (meaning ~ greater than 95% of the species global population for at least one life history segment) occurs in a single area, the conservation of any remaining populations in other areas is still of great importance. AZE will also track data and encourage conservation action for species that occur at two or more sites to prevent species from dropping to the point where emergency measures are required. 
   • "Known" populations include those localities with a published record of the species, even if there is no recent survey data (i.e., the species is assumed to persist unless proven otherwise).
     
     
   3. Discreteness
   • AZE suggests that in defining discrete areas the following issues are borne in mind: the extent of contiguous habitat; the boundaries of current land management units such as protected areas; the extent of occurrence of the species relative to practical conservation considerations; and the potential for significant gene flow between populations. 
   • The boundary of the area should be defined according to the most practical unit for which conservation can be applied. It is suggested that consideration is given to areas of important habitat lying adjacent to existing protected areas, or in the buffer zones, for inclusion within the boundaries of each area. 
   • The name of the area should be chosen to facilitate its location by the broadest possible audience. 
   • The size of the area should be noted, so that further analysis can enable partners to sort sites according to area for planning and prioritizing purposes.

   View examples of sites that do or do not qualify for inclusion as AZE sites

    Candidate List

   AZE will develop a "Candidate List" for any areas that are narrowly disqualified or unclear for inclusion. Examples include sites that do not quite meet the irreplaceability critera, that are not quite threatened enough (VU and DD species) but which are restricted to one or a few sites, unevaluated species, and species with taxonomic uncertainties (including undescribed and newly described species). This list will be periodically reviewed by the Criteria Committee so that the best judgments can be made in cases of uncertainty. The purpose of AZE is to quickly identify sites in need of urgent conservation to prevent species extinctions, and the site list, and if necessary, the criteria, will continue to be adapted to meet conservation needs case by case. AZE invites the submission of species and sites that may have been overlooked.

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