Asian birds are facing the threat of extinction resulted from unprotected habitat, thriving illegal trade and increased pollution, a study released at the 3rd World Conservation Union (IUCN) congress said Friday.
   
Under joint research by government and non-governmental organizations in 28 Asian countries, the study found that there are 2,293 key bird habitats in Asia, 7.6 percent of the region's total land area.
   
However, about 976 sites or 43 percent of the habitats are unprotected and a further 325 sites or 14 percent are partially protected, which caused one-eighth of the region's 2,700 bird species under threat of extinction, it said.
   
In Thailand, out of 62 key bird sites covering 44,425 square kilometers, 9 percent of the total land area, 16 are not in protected conservation areas.
   
The three major threats to the birds' existence are the loss or degradation of their habitats, pollution and the wild-bird trade, stated the study.
   
"Protection of the habitat is required. Our strategy is to protect the bird habitats by working with local people," Noritada Ichida, director of the Bird Life International's Asia division was quoted by The Nation newspaper as saying.
   
The two significantly hit species are the Spotted Greenshank and the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, said the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand.
   
Scheduled for November 17-25, the congress saw the participation of almost 7,000 world delegates, including government officials, scientists, and conservationists.

(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2004)