How many bird and mammal extinctions has recent conservation action prevented?

AbstractAichi Target 12 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) aims to ‘prevent extinctions of known threatened species’. To measure its success, we used a Delphi expert elicitation method to estimate the number of bird and mammal species whose extinctions were prevented by conservation action in 1993 - 2020 (the lifetime of the CBD) and 2010 - 2020 (the timing of Aichi Target 12). We found that conservation prevented 21–32 bird and 7–16 mammal extinctions since 1993, and 9–18 bird and 2–7 mammal extinctions since 2010. Many remain highly threatened, and may still become extinct in the near future. Nonetheless, given that ten bird and five mammal species did go extinct (or are strongly suspected to) since 1993, extinction rates would have been 2.9–4.2 times greater without conservation action. While policy commitments have fostered significant conservation achievements, future biodiversity action needs to be scaled up to avert additional extinctions.

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The Protection and Sustainable Exploitation of Genetic Resources of the High Seas from the European Union's Perspective

The International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law ◽

10.1163/157180809x421725 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 333-341

Author(s):

Serge Beslier

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Legal Status ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Benefit Sharing ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Near Future ◽

High Seas

AbstractThis paper examines how marine biodiversity and genetic resources in the high seas can be protected and whether their exploitation should be regulated. As to their protection, it raises the question whether existing sectoral approaches should continue or to create a new mechanism based on an integrated approach. In accordance with the European Union's position, the latter is favoured, while acknowledging that several States still have reservations and question the need for new legal instruments. Concerning the necessity of a regulatory scheme governing their exploitation, existing mechanisms under the Law of the Sea Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity are examined and it is concluded that they are not applicable or do not provide for specific rules on this issue. It is further presumed that the resulting absence of a clear framework is acceptable because the potential of commercial exploitation is still uncertain, so that there will only be scientific research without vital negative impact on the marine environment in the near future. It is suggested that the international community should rather focus on defining the legal status of genetic resources and clarifying whether they belong to the common heritage of mankind and require a benefit-sharing system, as proposed by developing countries.

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Global patterns in threats to vertebrates by biological invasions

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2015.2454 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 283 (1823) ◽

pp. 20152454 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

C. Bellard ◽

P. Genovesi ◽

J. M. Jeschke

Keyword(s):

Biological Invasions ◽

Threatened Species ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Invasive Alien Species ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Major Influence ◽

Invasive Mammals ◽

Taxonomic Groups ◽

Changes Over Time

Biological invasions as drivers of biodiversity loss have recently been challenged. Fundamentally, we must know where species that are threatened by invasive alien species (IAS) live, and the degree to which they are threatened. We report the first study linking 1372 vertebrates threatened by more than 200 IAS from the completely revised Global Invasive Species Database. New maps of the vulnerability of threatened vertebrates to IAS permit assessments of whether IAS have a major influence on biodiversity, and if so, which taxonomic groups are threatened and where they are threatened. We found that centres of IAS-threatened vertebrates are concentrated in the Americas, India, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. The areas in which IAS-threatened species are located do not fully match the current hotspots of invasions, or the current hotspots of threatened species. The relative importance of biological invasions as drivers of biodiversity loss clearly varies across regions and taxa, and changes over time, with mammals from India, Indonesia, Australia and Europe are increasingly being threatened by IAS. The chytrid fungus primarily threatens amphibians, whereas invasive mammals primarily threaten other vertebrates. The differences in IAS threats between regions and taxa can help efficiently target IAS, which is essential for achieving the Strategic Plan 2020 of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

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Efficient expansion of global protected areas requires simultaneous planning for species and ecosystems

Royal Society Open Science ◽

10.1098/rsos.150107 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 150107 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Tal Polak ◽

James E. M. Watson ◽

Richard A. Fuller ◽

Liana N. Joseph ◽

Tara G. Martin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Threatened Species ◽

Protected Area ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Conservation Strategy ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Planning Approach ◽

Efficiency And Effectiveness ◽

Adequate Representation ◽

Efficient Expansion

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)'s strategic plan advocates the use of environmental surrogates, such as ecosystems, as a basis for planning where new protected areas should be placed. However, the efficiency and effectiveness of this ecosystem-based planning approach to adequately capture threatened species in protected area networks is unknown. We tested the application of this approach in Australia according to the nation's CBD-inspired goals for expansion of the national protected area system. We set targets for ecosystems (10% of the extent of each ecosystem) and threatened species (variable extents based on persistence requirements for each species) and then measured the total land area required and opportunity cost of meeting those targets independently, sequentially and simultaneously. We discover that an ecosystem-based approach will not ensure the adequate representation of threatened species in protected areas. Planning simultaneously for species and ecosystem targets delivered the most efficient outcomes for both sets of targets, while planning first for ecosystems and then filling the gaps to meet species targets was the most inefficient conservation strategy. Our analysis highlights the pitfalls of pursuing goals for species and ecosystems non-cooperatively and has significant implications for nations aiming to meet their CBD mandated protected area obligations.

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Predicting extinction of mammals in the Brazilian Amazon

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605305000700 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 347-350 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Carlos Eduardo Viveiros Grelle

Keyword(s):

Functional Groups ◽

Threatened Species ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Brazilian Amazon ◽

Ecosystem Stability ◽

Infrastructure Projects ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Extinction Rates ◽

Cascade Effect ◽

Species Area

Using the species-area correlation I predicted the percentage of endemic Amazonian mammals committed to extinction by 2020 as an outcome of deforestation resulting from the implementation of mega-infrastructure projects in the Brazilian Amazon. Simulations based on optimistic and non-optimistic deforestation scenarios showed a 2-fold and a 3-fold increase, respectively, in Amazonian mammals committed to extinction. The predicted number of threatened species by 2020 was 5–18% of the total number of endemic mammal species, depending on the scenario and equation used. This increase in extinction rates could be catastrophic for ecosystem stability in the Amazon because the loss of functional groups may produce a cascade effect of species extinctions.

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Assessing introgressive hybridization in roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus): Lessons from South Africa

10.1101/569830 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anna M van Wyk ◽

Desiré L Dalton ◽

Antoinette Kotzé ◽

J. Paul Grobler ◽

Prudent S. Mokgokong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Species Conservation ◽

Introgressive Hybridization ◽

West African ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

African Region ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Roan Antelope

Biological diversity is being lost at unprecedented rates, with admixture and introgression presenting major threats to species’ conservation. To this end, our ability to accurately identify introgression is critical to manage species, obtain insights into evolutionary processes, and ultimately contribute to the Aichi Targets developed under the Convention on Biological Diversity. A case in hand concerns roan antelope, one of Africa’s most iconic large mammal species. Despite their large size, these antelope are sensitive to habitat disturbance and interspecific competition, leading to the species being listed as Least Concern but with decreasing population trends, and as extinct over parts of its range. Molecular research identified the presence of two evolutionary significant units across their sub-Saharan range, corresponding to a West African lineage and a second larger group which includes animals from East, Central and Southern Africa. Within South Africa, one of the remaining bastions with increasing population sizes, there are a number of West African roan antelope populations on private farms, and concerns are that these animals hybridize with roan that naturally occur in the southern African region. We used a suite of 27 microsatellite markers to conduct admixture analysis. Our results unequivocally indicate evidence of hybridization, with our developed tests able to accurately identify F1, F2 and non-admixed individuals at threshold values of qi = 0.20 and qi = 0.15, although further backcrosses were not always detectable. Our study is the first to confirm ongoing hybridization in this iconic African antelope, and we provide recommendations for the future conservation and management of this species.

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Linking indices for biodiversity monitoring to extinction risk theory

10.1101/000760 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Michael A. McCarthy ◽

Alana L. Moore ◽

Jochen Krauss ◽

John W Morgan ◽

Christopher F. Clements

Keyword(s):

Biological Diversity ◽

Extinction Risk ◽

Geometric Mean ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Biodiversity Indices ◽

Extinction Rates ◽

Avian Abundance ◽

General Power

Biodiversity indices often combine data from different species when used in monitoring programs. Heuristic properties can suggest preferred indices, but we lack objective ways to discriminate between indices with similar heuristics. Biodiversity indices can be evaluated by determining how well they reflect management objectives that a monitoring program aims to support. For example, the Convention on Biological Diversity requires reporting about extinction rates, so simple indices that reflect extinction risk would be valuable. Here we develop three biodiversity indices that are based on simple models of population viability that relate extinction risk to abundance. The first index is based on the geometric mean abundance of species. A second uses a more general power mean. A third integrates both the geometric mean abundance and trend. These indices require the same data as previous indices, but they also relate directly to extinction risk. Field data for butterflies and woodland plants, and experimental studies of protozoan communities show that the indices correlate with local extinction rates. Applying the index based on the geometric mean to global data on changes in avian abundance suggests that the average extinction probability of birds has increased approximately 1% from 1970 to 2009.

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Preventing extinctions post-2020 requires recovery actions and transformative change

10.1101/2020.11.09.374314 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Friederike C. Bolam ◽

Jorge Ahumada ◽

H. Reşit Akçakaya ◽

Thomas M. Brooks ◽

Wendy Elliott ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Threatened Species ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Extinction Risk ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Transformative Change ◽

Species Extinction ◽

The World ◽

Global Biodiversity ◽

Species Specific

AbstractStopping human-induced extinctions will require strong policy commitments that comprehensively address threats to species. In 2021, a new Global Biodiversity Framework will be agreed by the Convention on Biological Diversity. Here we investigate how the suggested targets could contribute to reducing threats to threatened vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants, and assess the importance of a proposed target to implement recovery actions for threatened species. We find that whilst many of the targets benefit species, extinction risk for over one third of threatened species would not be reduced sufficiently without a target on recovery actions, including ex situ conservation, reintroductions and other species-specific interventions. A median of 41 threatened species per country require such actions, and they are found in most countries of the world. To prevent future extinctions, policy commitments must include recovery actions for the most threatened species in addition to broader transformative change.

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The status of Nepal’s mammals

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.3712.10.3.11361-11378 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 11361 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Rajan Amin ◽

Hem Sagar Baral ◽

Babu Ram Lamichhane ◽

Laxman Prasad Poudyal ◽

Samantha Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endangered Species ◽

Land Use Planning ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Illegal Hunting ◽

Critically Endangered Species ◽

The Status ◽

Data Deficient

The main objectives of the Nepal National Mammal Red Data Book (RDB) were to provide comprehensive and up-to-date accounts of 212 mammal species recorded in Nepal, assess their status applying the IUCN Guidelines at Regional Levels, identify threats and recommend the most practical measures for their conservation. It is hoped that the Mammal RDB will help Nepal achieve the Convention on Biological Diversity target of preventing the extinction of known threatened species and improving their conservation status. Of the 212 mammal species assessed, 49 species (23%) were listed as nationally threatened. These comprise nine (18%) Critically Endangered species, 26 (53%) Endangered species and 14 (29%) Vulnerable species. One species was considered regionally Extinct. A total of seven species (3%) were considered Near Threatened and 83 species (39%) were Data Deficient. Over sixty percent of Nepal’s ungulates are threatened and almost half of Nepal’s carnivores face extinction (45% threatened). Bats and small mammals are the least known groups with 60 species being Data Deficient. Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation are the most significant threats. Other significant threats include illegal hunting, small and fragmented populations, reduction of prey base, human wildlife conflict and persecution, climate change, invasive species, disease and inadequate knowledge and research. Adequate measures to address these threats are described. It was also concluded that re-assessments of the status of certain mammal groups be carried out every five years and the setting up of a national online species database and mapping system would also greatly help in land-use planning and policies.

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The IUCN Technical Guidelines on the Management of Ex Situ Populations for Conservation: reflecting major changes in the application of ex situ conservation

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605305000177 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 95-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Mike Maunder ◽

Onnie Byers

Keyword(s):

Threatened Species ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Ex Situ Conservation ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Captive Populations ◽

Current Thinking ◽

Maximum Benefit ◽

Legal Structures

The recently revised IUCN Technical Guidelines on the Management of Ex Situ Populations for Conservation represent an attempt to synthesize current thinking on the strategic application of ex situ conservation for the maximum benefit of both threatened species and habitats. We review this document as a means of assessing major changes in the application of ex situ conservation. We identify a number of major themes. These include the need for the integrated management of wild and captive populations, expansion of ex situ capacity in terms of institutional facilities and breadth of taxonomic experience, an important emphasis to be given to the need for in-country conservation initiatives, and the need to comply with national and international legal structures, most notably the Convention on Biological Diversity.

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