Compiled by S Chan, MJ Crosby, MZ Islam, and AW Tordoff.Birdlife's Red Data Book - Threatened Birds of Asiaidentified that one quarter of all bird species in Asia were aconservation concern, 323 species, about 12% were at risk ofglobal extinction. Clearly it is imperative that important birdareas be identified and then prioritised on the basis ofscientific evidence.Important Bird Areas in Asia is the first comprehensiveinventory of Asia's key sites for birds and biodiversity.Country-by-country, the book details the region's 2,293 ImportantBird Areas (IBAs), of these 976, or 43% are lacking any formalprotection. This book presents a sound basis for the developmentof national conservation strategies and protected area programmes,and highlights areas which should be safeguarded through wisepolicies and land-use planning.Review'...much valuable information for each country...a wonderfulbook' - Alula.

This is the first single volume guide ever devoted to the eastern Asian avifauna. The eastern Asian region, centring especially on the major islands off the continental coast (including Japan and Taiwan) and the immediately adjacent areas of the Asian continent from Kamchatka in the north and including the Korean Peninsula are an important centre of endemism. Birds endemic to this region include representatives of many of the major families, from the world's largest eagle - Steller's Sea Eagle - to the tiny Formosan Firecrest. The east Asian continental coast and the offshore islands also form one of the world's major international bird migration routes, especially for waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors, while the east Asian continental mainland itself is home to a wide range of species little known to western ornithologists such as Scaly-sided Merganser, Oriental Stork and Mugimaki Flycatcher. The guide features the most up-to-date text available, which, in conjunction with extensive colour plates throughout, facilitates the field identification of all of the species known from the region. Colour distribution maps enhance the text by providing a visual analysis of the summer, winter and migratory ranges of all species.

Updated and extended, this book provides comprehensive coverage of the 3,619 most important sites for bird conservation in 51 European countries, equivalent to seven percent of the continent's land area. Each country's entry is the work of one to three local experts. Key species, habitats and conservation issues are discussed for every site, with thumbnail location maps. Hundreds of graphics, maps and data tables show key information at national and regional levels. An essential guide for policy-makers and developers, conservationists and environmental consultants, and a call for action to national governments, who have left 40 percent of these sites with no legal protection. "A tremendous source of valuable data" - Ibis. "Of the highest value for conservation in general" - British Birds. "Raises the bar very high for the rest of us" - The Condor. "A working document, to be used by conservationists on a local, national and international level to save these special places from destruction" - BBC Wildlife.