Important Bird Areas in Asia

Book excerpt: Compiled by S Chan, MJ Crosby, MZ Islam, and AW Tordoff.Birdlife's Red Data Book - Threatened Birds of Asiaidentified that one quarter of all bird species in Asia were aconservation concern, 323 species, about 12% were at risk ofglobal extinction. Clearly it is imperative that important birdareas be identified and then prioritised on the basis ofscientific evidence.Important Bird Areas in Asia is the first comprehensiveinventory of Asia's key sites for birds and biodiversity.Country-by-country, the book details the region's 2,293 ImportantBird Areas (IBAs), of these 976, or 43% are lacking any formalprotection. This book presents a sound basis for the developmentof national conservation strategies and protected area programmes,and highlights areas which should be safeguarded through wisepolicies and land-use planning.Review'...much valuable information for each country...a wonderfulbook' - Alula.