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Numbers and distribution of waterbirds and wetlands in the Asia-Pacific region: Results of the Asian Waterbird Census: 1997-2001

Published on:
  • Species
  • Wetland values, status and trends

The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) was initiated in 1987 and runs in parallel with other waterbird census carried out in Africa, Europe, Central and West Asia and Latin America under the umbrella of the International Waterbird Census (IWC), which is organised by Wetlands International. The IWC is the largest and longest running faunal monitoring programme in the world.

The AWC started on the Indian subcontinent in January 1987 and has grown rapidly to cover Asia, Australasia and eastern Russia. Since 1987, a total of more than 5,700 sites from 25 countries have been counted at least once. The AWC census takes place annually, during the second and third weeks of January, and is carried out by volunteers interested in collecting information on waterbirds and wetlands as a basis for contributing to their conservation.

The data given in this publication represent the results of the AWC from 1997 to 2001.

Numbers and distribution of waterbirds and wetlands in the Asia-Pacific region: Results of the Asian Waterbird Census: 1997-2001