More Species Threatened by Extinction
Intensive conservation work has already saved several species on the brink of extinction. However 20% of animal and plant species are under threat of extinction, it has been revealed. Scientists who compiled the Red List of Threatened Species say the number of species facing extinction is rising. The Red List is being launched at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Japan where governments from around the world will be discussing how to better protect the natural world.
The Red List report says that 41% of amphibian species are at risk while 13% of bird species make it to the list as being under threat.
South East Asia is the area with the highest proportion of species are at risk due to a loss of habitat forest is cleared for agriculture use, including the growing of biofuel crops.
The scientists behind the assessment say the latest evidence shows that conversation projects are having a global impact. “really focused conservation efforts work well, when we do them. Many island birds are recovering, and there are lots of examples like this,” said Simon Stuart, chairman of the Species Survival Commission with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
“we can show for sure that when we focus conservation efforts and really address the threats and put enough money into it, then you see positive results.”
Incidences of animals that have been bred in captivity and successfully returned to the wild are: the black footed ferret and California condor from the US and Przewalski’s horse in Mongolia.
Following the ban whaling the population of humpback whale has increased so quickly that they are no longer on the Red List.
Analysis of scientific research has shown hat fundamental changes are needed to avoid declining populations of many plant and animal species.
The one of the debates at the CBD is what the global target for 2020 should be, to completely halt the loss of biodiversity, or something less ambitious. Many analysts believe that a complete halt is not feasible.
Governments, at the conference, appear united in their desire to do something according to Dr. Simon Stuart the chairman of the Species Survival Commission with the international Union for the Conservation of Nature [IUCN.].
“They’ve said that they want to see improvements in status, especially in those species that are most at risk,” he told BBC News. “that to us is a very good target, we think it’s achievable with a lot of effort. There doesn’t seem to be much disagreement between countries on that issue, on other issues, yes, but on the species issue they’re pretty solid.”
The major disagreement is, as might be expected, on the financing of species protection. Developing countries want a 100 fold increase in spending by the West while other nations are arguing for a 10 fold rise. Given the world recession it is difficult to forecast what the conference delegates will decide.