Definitive global assessment of threatened bird species
Cambridge, UK, 26th September, 2000 -- Threatened Birds of the World, the most authoritative and comprehensive
assessment ever published on the status of the world's threatened bird species, will be launched next month by H.M.
Queen Noor of Jordan on behalf of the bird conservation organisation, BirdLife International.
The new assessment identifies all globally threatened bird species, how and why they are threatened, where they live,
and what needs to be done to save them. It contains alarming new facts about extinctions and declines, and reveals that
the total number of species in the most threatened categories is continuing to rise. It also highlights key habitats and
the main threats to the most threatened species.
Threatened Birds of the World contains a new total for globally threatened bird species, 99% of which are at risk of
extinction from human activities such as logging, intensive agriculture, long-line fishing, hunting and trapping. For
the first time the assessment sets out potential solutions, including practical actions required to save species from
extinction, and conservation targets to be met by 2005.
The launch coincides with the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Congress in Amman, Jordan, where IUCN members gather to
discuss global conservation policy for the next four years, including ways of addressing the growing global extinction
crisis.
A media launch presenting the key findings of Threatened Birds of the World will be held on Saturday 7th October in the
main plenary hall of the IUCN World Congress, Amman, Jordan, at 12.30 p.m. local time (+1 hr British Summer Time, +2 hrs
GMT). BirdLife International's Honorary President, H.M. Queen Noor of Jordan will launch the book with BirdLife
International Director and Chief Executive, Mike Rands. Journalists unable to attend can contact Michael Szabo at
BirdLife International in Cambridge for more information, or to arrange interviews, on + 44 (0) 1223 277 318 or 07779
018322 (mobile). Journalists in Amman can contact BirdLife's Head of Communications, Adrian Long, on 07779 018295. A
news release, briefing materials and details for obtaining visual resources will be posted on BirdLife's website on 7th
October at www.birdlife.net
The 860 page book is a key element of BirdLife's ongoing "Globally Threatened Species Programme" and was compiled from
the input of 1,000 volunteer and staff experts working in over 100 countries with BirdLife Partners, including the Wild
Bird Society of Japan and NatureKenya. For the first time the assessment contains individual species accounts and full
colour illustrations for all species under threat, maps of their distribution and location, population numbers and
trends, past and present conservation efforts, and practical conservation targets.
BirdLife International is a global alliance of conservation organizations working in more than 100 countries who,
together, are the world's leading authority on the status of birds, their habitats and the issues and problems affecting
bird life.
For further information please contact Michael Szabo at BirdLife International in Cambridge on Tel. + 44 (0) 1223 277
318 or 07779 018322 (mobile), Fax +44 (0) 1223 277 200 or Email michael.szabo@birdlife.org.uk
ENDS