12 Sep 2007- Gland, Switzerland
– The planet is being pushed to its limits
as indicated by the increasing number of
threatened species across the globe, according
to the latest trends in the World Conservation
Union’s (IUCN’s) Red List.
The Red List of Threatened Species acts
as a barometer that shows the effects habitat
loss and degradation, over-exploitation,
pollutants and climate change are having
on our planet.
“We’re at code red,” said Dr Susan Lieberman,
Director of WWF’s Global Species Programme.
“It’s about time people stopped talking
and realized this is not a game. The very
future of our planet – and the environment
we leave to our children – hangs in the
balance. Do we really want to be remembered
as the generation that got it so wrong?”
Species loss
According to WWF, the loss of species is
a clear warning for humans. Sound ecosystems
which include clean fresh water, safe seas
and healthy forests with robust species
populations, are critical to the livelihoods
and survival of people.
WWF applauds IUCN for drawing attention
to this situation and calls on governments
to take immediate, concrete, action to address
some of the root causes of species extinction.
WWF believes that the IUCN’s Red List classifications
should be used as a tool to assist in prioritizing
focus for limited resources.
For example, the western gorilla has moved
from Endangered to Critically Endangered.
The upgrade in status on the list should
highlight the plight of these gorillas,
whose population numbers prove the need
for urgent attention to combat commercial
hunting and further understand and prevent
ebola outbreaks.
Orang-utans are also under extreme threat,
primarily due to destruction of their habitat
for activities such as the creation of oil
palm plantations. WWF and its partners have
issued new guidelines to ensure that oil
palm plantations are better situated and
managed more effectively to prevent conflict
between the animals and humans. It is critical
that oil palm companies in orang-utan range
states take these on board.
Freshwater dolphins are suffering a dismal
fate globally due to dam-building, entanglement
in fishing nets, boat traffic and pollution.
In 2005, WWF launched a River Dolphin Initiative
with governments, other non-governmental
organizations, industry, fishermen, and
local communities to reduce or eliminate
the threats to river dolphins and porpoises.
Overexploitation of species for food, medicine,
pets and other human uses is a direct driver
of species loss. The impact of international
trade on wildlife is tremendous, and when
it is not properly regulated it causes rapid
declines, as seen for some of the species
highlighted by the IUCN’s Red List, particularly
reptiles from North America.
New listings
Corals are also on the list for the very
first time.
"The fact that corals are now present
on the IUCN’s Red List should sound warning
bells to the world that the oceans are in
trouble", said Dr Simon Cripps, Director
of WWF's Global Marine Programme.
Coral reefs are crucial as nursery grounds
for thousands of species of fish and invertebrates,
and provide revenue and livelihoods from
fishing and tourism for a large proportion
of the world's growing coastal population.
Corals across the world are being decimated
by unsustainable and destructive fishing
and by the effects of climate change. WWF
believes that unless the world acts urgently,
the corals now listed will soon be accompanied
by yet more species, and a loss of revenue
for dependent communities.
Political will
“World leaders have made various commitments
to halt biodiversity loss, but this crisis
has largely fallen off political agendas,"
Dr Lieberman added.
"Attention and funding have shifted
to economic development and long-term security
— without adequate attention to the link
between these issues, a healthy environment,
and truly sustainable development. It’s
time to make the connections.”
WWF believes the IUCN Red list is an important
science-based conservation tool that should
be used across the globe by communities,
governments and international fora to drive
funding and decision making. Reversal of
the negative trend is possible when political
motivation is high and when local communities
see the value and benefit from conserving
species.
The Red List is developed by a voluntary
network of IUCN Species Specialist groups.
WWF works in close cooperation with IUCN
across the globe, through field interventions
and by providing financial and technical
support to the various Species Specialist
groups of the IUCN Species Survival Commission.
Joanna Benn, Communications Manager
WWF Global Species Programme