The UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) are scattered across the globe. Most are small islands or island complexes, occurring from the Caribbean to the furthest reaches of the South Atlantic, via the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

In terms of global biodiversity, these territories are remarkably significant. Among landscapes that range from coral atolls, through mangroves and dry forests to the ice sheets of Antarctica, the UKOTs support no fewer than 45 species of birds currently considered to be globally threatened. They are also home to a third of all the world's breeding albatrosses, and nine of the world's 17 species of penguin.

In a rapidly changing world, the UKOTs symbolise global crises in climate and biodiversity. Threats faced by their wildlife range from mortality of seabirds at sea through industrial fisheries, and on land as a result of introduced ground predators, to the utter devastation of hurricanes in the Caribbean, which provide a stark reminder of our changing climate. The human impact on the wildlife of our planet has been increasing for centuries, but the next few decades promise to be critical.

This book explores the birds and other wildlife of each of the 14 UKOTs, with a particular focus on environmental threats and conservation priorities. Written by authors with a deep connection to the sites, this book represents an important stocktake of the biological richness of these special places in the early 21st century.

British Birds is a monthly magazine for everyone interested in the birds of the Western Palearctic (and beyond). Founded in 1907 and published continuously since then, it incorporates a range of peer-reviewed material on subjects such as bird behaviour, conservation, distribution, ecology, identification, movements, status and taxonomy, as well as the latest ornithological news and book reviews. It aspires to be the bird journal of record in Britain and a key characteristic is its aim to interpret scientific research on birds in an easily accessible way. British Birds also has its own charitable trust - the British Birds Charitable Trust - that makes annual grants to a range of ornithological and conservation projects; it will be donating all profits from the sale of this book to conservation work in the UK Overseas Territories. Roger Riddington has been the Editor of British Birds since 2001.

The RSPB is the largest nature conservation charity in the UK; with the support of over a million members and partner organisations, the RSPB strives to protect and restore our precious natural world. Originally established in 1889, the RSPB has worked with the UK Overseas Territories for more than 20 years to help local non-governmental organisations and communities protect their internationally significant wildlife. Some of the projects they have collaborated on include combating illegal bird-killing in the Cyprus Sovereign Base Areas, eradicating rats from World Heritage Sites to protect ground-nesting seabirds, and supporting the designation of large-scale Marine Protected Areas in their rich waters. Today, the RSPB's Overseas Territories team is focused on saving species found in the territories from extinction, helping to protect their most valuable natural sites both above and below water, ensuring that laws and polices safeguard their environments, and sharing their expertise to support the development of strong, sustainable and locally led territory conservation organisations.