International Conservation Efforts Richard Knight

IUCN Red data SPECIES List

Threatened Categories Collapse CO Critically Endangered Endangered CR Vulnerable Near Threatened Least Concern Data Deficient Not Evaluated CO CR EN Threatened VU NT LC DD NE

Red Lists and Red Data Books of Threatened Species IUCN maintains threatened species lists since 1950s. “Red Data Books” popularized in 1960s: birds & mammals. “Information explosion” in 1990s: Europe: 3,562 known red lists. South Africa – maintained by SANBI http://redlist.sanbi.org/ 100 countries have produced RL for at least one taxon (www.nationalredlist.org). Species assigned to categories on the basis of quantitative criteria and thresholds. Separation of risk assessment (scientific) from definition of conservation priorities (societal process).

Quantitative criteria: Categories for IUCN red lists Population decline Critically endangered Small range: fragmented / decline / fluctuation Thresholds Endangered Reproductive population small and declining Very small or restricted population Vulnerable Quantitative assessment

Conservation Priorities Extinction Risk Distributional Factors Weighting system Biological Factors Conservation priorities Societal Values Logistical Factors Economic Factors Analysis, studies, choices, politics, land use etc Other Factors (legal, institutional, etc.)

Motivation for a “Red List” categories system for ecosystems Abundant experience with red list categories for species. Red list “explosion” world-wide (> 100 countries have applied them). Increased capability of geographical information systems: more powerful and inexpensive computers. cheaper and more user-friendly software packages (Quantum and DIVA GIS– free and WebGIS). Increased availability of remotely-sensed data, covering 20-40 years.

Why focus on ecosystem status? May more effectively represent biodiversity as a whole than individual species. Ecosystem loss more apparent than species loss: clean water, food, fuel – service losses More time-efficient than species-by-species assessments (<3% species evaluated by IUCN). Ecosystem loss and degradation might precede species declines (e.g. extinction debt). Combined with species Red List, more powerful assessment of biodiversity status.

Official listing of threatened ecosystems is already taking place Gov. of W. Australia: quantitative categories & criteria for threatened ecosystems, also Victoria. S. African National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act: identification of over 200 threatened ecosystems. (Critical Biodiversity Areas and Ecosystem Support Areas Austria, Germany, Finland, Norway & partially in other EU states (based on NATURA 2000, EUNIS). Venezuela, Senegal (draft); and Colombia, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru in process EC tender for Red List of Habitats for Europe process

Consolidation of the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems: Mandates from the IUCN World Conservation Congresses (Barcelona 2008, Jeju 2012) Consolidation of the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems: Formal adoption of RLE categories and criteria. Formal allocation of funds/staff. Global assessment of ecosystems. Provision of support to national assessments. View RLS and RLE as an integrated tool (also with other IUCN key Knowledge Products).

Major scientific challenges What is an ecosystem? When is an ecosystem “extinct”? Disappearance, transformation or collapse? How to assess ecosystem change? distribution function

I. Defining ecosystems No global classification (but maybe getting nearer), ecosystems may be defined at various scales (raindrop to biosphere) ~WWF EcoRegions, GLC2000 Approach: Adopt widey accepted conceptual definition (Tansley 1935, Odum) Develop a risk assessment method applicable to any classification (national, regional) Promote development of a global ecosystem classification Require documented ecosystem descriptions as part of each risk assessment

Describing ecosystems for assessment Description template (operational) Classification (IUCN habitats, etc) List defining biotic features Identify defining abiotic features Describe key ecosystem drivers Maps (time series, projections) past, present, future Conceptual definition (4 key elements, Tansley 1935) characteristic assemblage of biota associated physical environment processes & interactions between components among biota between biota & environment Spatial extent

Defining ecosystems: Operational basis Specific set of ecosystems that can be nested (local, national, global) use of different schemes – c.f. NatureServe (Classification & Description of World Formation Types); EUNIS Nesting into administrative & other means of dividing – e.g. overall major ecosystem types in a country, or a district, or land/water use Trade-offs between conceptual definitions & practical reality! We respect & will use national ecosystem classifications, but will seek to nest them

Data integration, nesting & access

Data integration, nesting & access NatureServe

Coming to Global consensus on Ecosystems – but not there yet!

II. The concept of ‘risk’ RISK – the probability of a bad outcome over a specified time frame Define the bad outcome An endpoint to ecosystem decline Ecosystems rarely disappear or go “extinct” (cf. species) Exception Maldives “Collapse”: transformation of identity, loss of defining features (characteristic biota & function), replacement by a novel ecosystem (e.g. invasives, agriculture, plantation)

II. The concept of risk RISK – the probability of a bad outcome over a specified time frame Specify the time frame for assessing change long enough to detect trends, short enough to inform action, long enough to consider lags & debts past, present, future

III. Assessing ecosystem change Guiding principles for design of a protocol Evidence-based risk assessment using all available data & information Transparent derivation from relevant ecological theories Generic concepts and methods adaptable across a range of organisational & spatial scales and all ecological domains terrestrial, freshwater, marine, subterranean Logically consistent with IUCN Red List criteria for species

III. Assessing Ecosystem Change Threatening processes Risk of loss of characteristic native biota A Declining distribution C Environmt’l degradation D Altered biotic processes Ecosystem distribution Ecosystem function B Small E Quantitative risk analysis Risk model for ecosystems: threats to defining features (distribution, biota & function) multiple mechanisms (causes of threat) 4 symptoms (of decline) = 4 criteria plus one overarching criterion (probability of collapse)

WORLD Database Protected areas www.protectedplanet.net/