Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 4 • Number 5 • 19th March 2004
Agriculture and Forestry Threaten Bird Population
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The “State of the World’s Birds 2004” report released by BirdLife International concludes that agricultural expansion and unsustainable forestry are the biggest threat to bird diversity. According to BirdLife International, one in eight of the world’s birds faces extinction — a total of 1,211 species. Several reasons for the extinction crisis are cited by the organisation. Thus, the report finds that 50 percent of important bird areas in Africa are at risk due to agricultural expansion, while 64 percent of globally threatened birds are endangered by unsustainable forestry. The report also identifies alien invasive species as a major risk for birds in particular on islands. However, the report also highlights positive examples show-casing threatened species that have recovered following the improvement of management practices. Thus, about a quarter of threatened bird species have already gained from conservation projects, implemented by various stakeholders. The report concludes that timely action based on sound science can reverse the decline of bird diversity and the extinction threat. Birds have been categorised as an “indicator species”; thus the report not only informs about the state of bird species but also on the state of biodiversity in general. In conclusion the report calls for coordinated action to both improve the state of birds and to halt the loss of biodiversity.
“World’s birds under threat,” NEWS24, 8 March 2004; “Third of threatened birds still without help,” BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL, 8 March 2004.
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