IUCN SSG Red List WorkshopThreats and Conservation Actions

How do I make the correct selection?

Classification Schemes

• IUCN has developed standard terms for documenting:– Threats– Conservation actions

• Uniform classification– Allows for comparisons between taxonomic

groups• Still being developed and tested– Your feedback is important

Threat/Conservation Action

• 1. Main Category– 1.1 Sub category– Definition– Definition

• 2. Main Category– 2.3 Sub category• 2.3.2 Sub-sub Category

– Definition– Definition

Threats: what to keep in mind• Two tasks– Write narrative describing threats

• Past, ongoing or future (3 generations or 10 years)– Not to exceed 100 years in the future

• Be very specific in the text, assume reader has no idea what happens in the region (they probably won’t!)– Cause of threat (driver)– Threat itself– Scale of threat – global population affected or only small part of

population– Stress that threat places on taxon – habitat degradation or conversion,

direct mortality, species disturbance… • Use keywords associated with threats

– Select specific threats• Be selective – don’t choose everything (even though it may be

tempting!)

Threats: the classification1. Residential & commercial development 2. Agriculture & aquaculture 3. Energy production & mining 4. Transportation & service corridors 5. Biological resource use 6. Human intrusions & disturbance 7. Natural system modifications 8. Invasive & other problematic species & genes 9. Pollution 10. Geological events 11. Climate change & severe weather

Threats: the classification1. Residential & commercial development 2. Agriculture & aquaculture 3. Energy production & mining 4. Transportation & service corridors 5. Biological resource use 6. Human intrusions & disturbance 7. Natural system modifications 8. Invasive & other problematic species & genes 9. Pollution 10. Geological events 11. Climate change & severe weather

Most relevant

• 1. Residential & Commercial Development1.1 Housing & Urban areas– Land reclamation– Expanding human population that

causes habitat degradation

• 2. Agriculture & Aquaculture2.4 Marine & Freshwater Aquaculture• 2.4.1 Subsistence/artisanal aquaculture• 2.4.2 Industrial aquaculture

– Mangrove destruction for shrimp farming specifically (two scales)

Threats

• 5. Biological Resource Use5.4 Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources• 5.4.1 Intentional mortality (human use - subsistence/small

scale)– small scale/subsistence intentional fishery– Aquarium trade– Classification not based on the impact of the fishery

Threats

• 5.4.2 Intentional mortality (human use - large scale)– large scale/commercial intentional– Size of the fishery, not the impact

• 5. Biological Resource Use (cont.)• 5.4.3 Incidental or accidental mortality - BYCATCH

– small scale/subsistence unintentional fishery– small scale cyanide/dynamite fishing

(stress = ecosystem degradation)

Threats

• 5.4.4 Incidental or accidental mortality – BYCATCH– large scale/commercial unintentional fishery– large scale cyanide/dynamite fishing

(stress of ecosystem degradation)

• 5.4.5 Persecution/Control– shark nets

Threats:Note on Biological Resource Use• Intentional fisheries – Targeted• Family (e.g. Rhincobatidae, angel sharks) or species level

– NOT “elasmobranch…” or “skate fishery”– Does the fishery go out to specifically target a species, or

does it adjust its fishing tactics to catch the species? If so, when?

• Unintentional fishery– All other fishing whether discarded or not– Not just bycatch

• 6. Human intrusions & disturbance 6.1 Recreational activities

Threats

• 7. Natural System Modifications7.2 Dams & Water management/use• 7.2.9 Small dams• 7.2.10 Large dams• 7.2.11 Dams (size unknown)

• 9. Pollution– 9.1 Domestic & urban waste water

• 9.1.1 Sewage• 9.1.2 Run-off• 9.1.3 Type Unknown/Unrecorded

– 9.2 Industrial & military effluents • 9.2.1 Oil spills• 9.2.2 Seepage from mining• 9.2.3 Type Unknown/Unrecorded

– 9.3 Agricultural & forestry effluents • 9.3.1 Nutrient loads• 9.3.2 Soil erosion, sedimentation• 9.3.3 Herbicides and pesticides• 9.3.4 Type Unknown/Unrecorded

– 9.4 Garbage & solid waste

Threats

• 11 Climate change & severe weather – 11.1 Habitat shifting & alteration– 11.2 Droughts– 11.3 Temperature extremes– 11.4 Storms & flooding

You have to have strongevidence to choose these Population consequences

Threats

Conservation Actions

• Two tasks– Write narrative describing Conservation Actions – In Place

• Be very specific in the text, assume reader has no idea what a specific Conservation Actions implies (they probably won’t!)

• Use keywords associated with threat selections below

– Select specific Conservation Actions required to mitigate major threats• Be selective – don’t choose everything (even though it may be

tempting!)• Be realistic

– Don’t record a full ‘wish list’– Achieved in the next 5 years

1. Land/water protection 2. Land/water management 3. Species management 4. Education & awareness 5. Law & policy 6. Livelihood, economic & other incentives

Conservation Actions

1. Land/water protection 2. Land/water management 3. Species management 4. Education & awareness 5. Law & policy 6. Livelihood, economic & other incentives

Conservation Actions

Most relevant

Conservation Actions• 1 Land/water protection – 1.1 Site/area protection– 1.2 Resource & habitat protection• Marine Protected Area designation

Conservation Actions• 2 Land/water management – 2.1 Site/area management• MPA has already been set up but implementation required (no

paper parks)

– 2.3 Habitat & natural process restoration• coral reef restoration• mangrove replanting• modify land use policy

(logging and sedimentation)• dam removal• cleaning up oil spills

Conservation Actions

• 3 Species management 3.1 Species management • 3.1.1 Harvest management

– Management of harvest– fishing effort controls

• 3.1.2 Trade management– trade regulations of specific populations– non CITES trade regulations– aquarium trade regulations

Conservation Actions

• 4 Education & awareness – 4.2 Training• Species identification (fisheries observers)

– 4.3 Awareness & communications• Shark nets

Conservation Actions

• 5 Law & policy 5.1 Legislation • 5.1.1 International level

– CITES – a more general international agreement (than 3.1.2 – trade management) for the species itself or a group of species (e.g. hammerheads)• 5.1.2 National level• 5.1.3 Sub-national level• 5.1.4 Scale unspecified

5.2 Policies and regulations(Salafsky)

Conservation Actions

• 5 Law & policy 5.3 Private sector standards & codes– Marine Aquarium Council– Marine Stewardship Council

5.4 Compliance and enforcement – If it has CITES, for example, it would require this

• 5.4.1 International level• 5.4.2 National level• 5.4.3 Sub-national level• 5.4.4 Scale unspecified

Threats and Conservation Actions

Any questions?