The Asian region extends from the tropical islands of Indonesia to the Arctic tundra of north-eastern Russia, and from the hot deserts of Pakistan and western India, across the highest mountain ranges in the world to the rainforests of South-East Asia.

The great diversity of habitats embraced by this region, is reflected in a great diversity of bird species. There are about 2700 occur, representing over 25% of all bird species on earth. Asia also supports 3.5 billion of the world's human population of 6 billion (over 50% of all people on earth), and includes the two most populous countries and some of the most dynamic economies in the world. Almost all of Asia's natural habitats are consequently under enormous pressure, and many of the species that depend on them, are now of global conservation concern.

12 % of all bird species in the Asian region, is globally threatened. The bird species in Asia face a high risk of extinction over the next 10 years.

Forests are by far the most important of all the habitats for threatened bird species in Asia, supporting around 80% of the total population. The single most important forest type is tropical lowland moist forest. Unfortunaly they are overexploitation, and conversed to other land-uses. This is by far the most significant threat to the region's birds and other biodiversity. Wetlands are also relatively important in the Asian region. 20% of threatened species can befound in such habitats.

After habitat loss, human exploitation is the second most common threat, effecting 50% of all threatened species. Of these latter, 70% are currently taken for food and 30% for the cagebird trade. The keeping of birds for their beauty and song is highly popular in the region and, with increasing prosperity, demand is expected to rise especially for the rarer species. There is mounting concern, that many more species, even those with wide ranges, may qualify as globally threatened in the near future due to the effects of bird trade.