http://www.wetlands.org/news.aspx?ID=58db9128-9d19-4c6b-9c6e-
c97a599e4dc5
Study reveals worsening condition of waterbirds in Asia
Wetlands International
Waterbird Population Estimates - Fourth Edition
23-01-2007
Press release
Today, the NGO Wetlands International released the Fourth edition of
their 'Waterbird Population Estimates', a publication based on annual
monitoring of millions of waterbirds, that presents estimates and
trends of 878 waterbird species. The new edition reveals a decrease in
waterbird populations since the third edition of 2002.
At a global level 44% of populations for which trend data is available
are decreasing or have become extinct, 34% are stable, and 17% are
increasing. Asia is the continent where concern is greatest.
In Asia, 62% of the populations are now decreasing or have become
extinct, and only 10% show an increasing trend. In Oceania one in six
species have already become extinct.
The most frequent known cause of population decrease is habitat
destruction, often caused by unsustainable human activity. The frantic
pace of economic development in Asia is clearly having adverse impacts
on the environment, including numbers and population trends of
waterbirds. Human impacts such as urban sprawl, reclamation of
wetlands, increase of pollution and hunting pressure can develop
rapidly and conservation considerations are often not taken into
account.
With this annual census coordinated by Wetlands International,
waterbirds are among the most comprehensively studied group of animals
worldwide. Waterbirds depend on a whole range of healthy wetlands along
their migration routes. This makes them good indicators for assessing
the status of wetlands globally. Regular tracking of the status of
waterbirds helps to identify priorities for research and conservation
of both waterbird species and wetlands of international importance.
The publication Waterbird Population Estimates Fourth Edition is the
result of fieldwork carried out every year by 15,000 voluntary expert
observers in more than 100 countries in Asia, Africa, Oceania, South
America and Europe.
The book is for sale now at NHBS Environment Bookstore and can be
ordered through NHBS .com
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