Waterbird Population Estimates - Third Edition.

This book:

• Identifies 2,271 biogeographical populations of all 868 species recognised as waterbirds occurring throughout the world
• Provides estimates of the numerical abundance of 76% of these populations
• Estimates population trends (whether declining, stable or increasing) for 50% of these populations
• Sets 1% levels for identification of wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
• Provides information fundamental to the conservation of waterbirds under regional inter-governmental initiatives, for example, the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) under the Bonn Convention
• Provides information for the identification of internationally important sites and conservation of migratory waterbirds under international cooperative initiatives, for example, the Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy, coordinated by Wetlands International Identifies gaps in knowledge of populations, species and geographical regions.

Full colour throughout; viii + 226 pages, 840 maps, 63 colour photographs, 4 tables, 2 figures. Baseline information for waterbird and wetland conservation.

It is extremely helpful when planning the conservation of any species to be able to estimate the number of individuals that exist, and whether that number is increasing, stable or declining. This is not possible for most plants and animals, but for waterbirds, many species of which congregate conspicuously, there is a tradition of monitoring by ornithologists, which in many countries goes back 50 years or more.

The Wetlands International publications Waterfowl Population Estimates first edition (Rose & Scott 1994) and second edition (Rose & Scott 1997) presented this crucial baseline information on population numbers and trends for every waterbird population in the world and the much-expanded and revised third edition is the latest in the series (Note: editions 1 and 2 used the term "Waterfowl" to describe the species whose populations were presented.

Nowadays we prefer the term "Waterbirds", because "Waterfowl" has different meanings in different parts of the English-speaking world). Valuable information for international wetland and waterbird conservation agreements One of the most readily applicable and widely used of the criteria employed to identify Wetlands of International Importance designated under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, is the so-called 1% criterion. This states that any site which regularly holds 1% or more of a population of waterbirds qualifies as a wetland of international importance.

The tables in Waterbird Population Estimates form the basis of this 1% criterion. Authoritative and comprehensive coverage Wetlands International’s unique networks of waterbird counters and other national and international experts ensure that the information presented in Waterbird Population Estimates is authoritative and comprehensive. Of the 2,271 populations recognised in the third edition of Waterbird Population Estimates, some information is available on population size for 1,725 (76%), and on population trends (changes in number) for 1,138 (50%). No fewer than 41% of monitored populations show a decreasing population trend and this gives considerable cause for concern.