THE loss of natural wetlands is bringing wild and domesticated birds into ever closer contact, spreading bird flu to farm animals. So says a report being prepared for the United Nations Environment Programme.
UNEP estimates that farmers and urban developers have drained half the world鈥檚 wetlands in recent decades. Migrating wild ducks, geese and other wetland birds are forced to visit farm ponds and paddy fields, where they infect local birds, says David Rapport, honorary professor of ecosystem health at the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Rapport, lead author of the forthcoming report, was speaking at a meeting on avian flu at UNEP鈥檚 headquarters in Nairobi last week.
鈥淪urviving wetlands along migration routes can become reservoirs for the virus鈥�
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He called for greater efforts to preserve natural wetlands and so reduce contact between wild and domesticated birds. But the issue is complicated by the fact that surviving wetlands along the flight paths of migrating birds attract more birds and can become reservoirs for the virus. To combat this, Rapport called for steps to 鈥渃lear intensive poultry rearing units from the flyways of migrating birds鈥� 鈥� something no government has contemplated.
Meanwhile, UNEP biologists have warned that many more species of wildlife could be threatened if avian flu jumps species. They say 80 per cent of known bird species could be at risk, with crows and vultures of particular concern, and warned that even big cats like tigers and leopards might be threatened.
