Queen Noor To Launch Threatened Birds Of The World

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

© Scoop Media