March 7, 2007
"Waterbirds around the world" Released
On 12 March 2007, the much anticipated book "Waterbirds around the World" will be officially released at an international ceremony in The Hague, The Netherlands. The book, represents a combination of the work and research of several hundred leading experts and organisations from around the world, and integrates data collected by tens of thousands of globally active volunteers. It provides one of the most comprehensive overviews on topics related to waterbirds and their global migration routes to date.
Cover: Waterbirds of the World
The conference "Waterbirds around the World" (Edinburgh, UK, 3-8 April 2004), from which this book draws, was one of the largest gatherings ever on the topic - bringing together over 450 waterbird and wetland scientists, policy makers and conservation practitioners from 90 countries. The book, which pulls together this unique global effort, contains over 260 papers and reviews on a number of current and cross-cutting topics related to waterbirds and their conservation such as climate change, infectious diseases and the need for flyway-scale conservation.
"Waterbirds around the World" will not only become an important resource to help guide future international nature conservation policy, it also represents a work which captures the collective state of knowledge and spirit of this unique global flyways conference which took place in Edinburgh in April 2004. The conference called for urgent and collaborative national and international action on wetlands and waterbirds in the "The Edinburgh Declaration".
This groundbreaking book will be officially launched at a ceremony on Monday (12 March 2007), where the book's significance will also be highlighted to the media and invited guests by a panel of experts. Papers will be available at www.jncc.gov.uk/worldwaterbirds after the book launch on 12 March. The Conference proceedings are published by The Stationery Office of the UK, to whom sale requests should be addressed after the launch date
Download "Waterbirds of the world" contents
Key Points:
Waterbirds around the world is a unique resource for conservation and wise-use. Waterbirds around the world:
contains contributions from 453 authors from 59 countries
has 264 papers and reviews relating to 614 waterbird species from 162 countries
presents new data on 170 Globally and Near Threatened species.
This book provides a unique overview of the status of the world’s waterbirds at the start of a new millennium. The hard work the hard work leading to the reverse of the unfavourable conservation status of so many waterbirds, and of providing these charismatic species with a secure future is only just starting. Waterbirds around the world not only provides new information on a daunting array of threats, but also documents numerous success stories and conservation best practice. This gives some optimism that concerted international efforts can yield positive results.
Habitat loss and degradation is driving the declines of many waterbirds
There are widespread declines in the sizes of waterbird populations in most regions of the world caused principally by loss and degradation of wetland (and other) habitats. Conservation responses must urgently address causes of wetland loss and degradation, as well as enhancing monitoring and research so as better to inform appropriate conservation policies.
There is an urgent need to complete national networks of protected sites for waterbirds Inventories of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) have now been published for most of the Old World and are under preparation for the New World.
Flagship species
Measures to protect the habitat of critically threatened ‘flagship’ waterbirds such as the Siberian Crane has direct conservation benefits to a wide range of other globally threatened species.
Globally threatened waterbirds need priority conservation action
Little conservation action is being undertaken for many globally threatened species. The number of globally threatened waterbirds continues to increase. Waterbirds around the world contains new data and information on 170 globally threatened species. There is a need to use this information to assist practical conservation measures.
Co-ordinated conservation action planning works
European experience shows that, when effectively implemented, international action plans can positively influence the conservation status of globally threatened birds.
Avian disease: an increasingly important issue
The frequency and magnitude of disease amongst waterbirds has increased and affect not only waterbirds, but also impacts on human economic, health and cultural values.
Solutions require integration of numerous scientific disciplines in an ecological approach.
There is an urgent need for more systematic disease surveillance diseases at national and international scales. Current concerns regarding avian influenza have focussed attention on how best to make this happen.