UNEP sounds alarm over rapid decline in migratory birds
Pastor Dale Morgan
UNEP sounds alarm over rapid decline in migratory birds*
by Staff Writers
Nairobi (AFP) May 9, 2008
The United Nations Environment Programme on Thursday voiced concern over
rapidly declining numbers of migratory birds globally, in what it said
was an alarming sign of the state of world biodiversity.
"The decline in numbers is currently being recorded for many of the
migratory bird species along all of the world's major flyways," UNEP
said in a statement issued ahead of the May 10-11 World Migratory Bird Day.
"For example: 41 percent of the 522 migratory waterbird populations on
the African-Eurasian flyways are declining and there are reports that
numbers of migratory songbirds using the same flyways are also
decreasing," it said.
Migratory birds are vulnerable to environmental changes and are
considered some of the best indicators of the state of the world's
ecosystems.
"The overall decline in bird numbers may be signalling a wider
environmental problem linked to the loss of habitats and biodiversity
worldwide," the statement said.
It added that this phenomenon was compounded by climate change, which
has seen deserts expand and wetlands disappear.
The environment agency urged world leaders to step up efforts aimed at
protecting sites used by migratory birds in a move that would benefit
the planet's wider biodiversity.