This important publication is the result of the Asian Waterbird Census from 1997 to 2001. The report provides valuable and important data on waterbird population, distribution and status, with reference to wetland habitats. A total of 22 countries participated in the censuses and 1,392 sites were covered at least once between 1997 and 2001. A total of 61 Ramsar Sites, 32 migratory waterbird network sites in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, and 43 bird areas were covered. 291 species of waterbirds and 15 species of wetland-dependent raptors (birds of prey) were recorded during this period; and a maximum of over 4.5 million waterbirds were counted in 2001. Distribution maps are presented for a selection of 110 species, including 24 globally threatened and 9 near threatened species for which relatively significant data are available.