IUCN SSG Red List Workshop Threats 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 2. Main Category – 2.3 Sub category Sub-sub Category – 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 classification 1.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 classification 1.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 Development 1.1 Housing & Urban areas – Land reclamation – Expanding human population that causes habitat degradation 2. Agriculture & Aquaculture 2.4 Marine & Freshwater Aquaculture Subsistence/artisanal aquaculture Industrial aquaculture – Mangrove destruction for shrimp farming specifically (two scales) Threats

5. Biological Resource Use 5.4 Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources Intentional mortality (human use - subsistence/small scale) – small scale/subsistence intentional fishery – Aquarium trade – Classification not based on the impact of the fishery Threats Intentional mortality (human use - large scale) – large scale/commercial intentional – Size of the fishery, not the impact

5. Biological Resource Use (cont.) Incidental or accidental mortality - BYCATCH – small scale/subsistence unintentional fishery – small scale cyanide/dynamite fishing (stress = ecosystem degradation) Threats Incidental or accidental mortality – BYCATCH – large scale/commercial unintentional fishery – large scale cyanide/dynamite fishing (stress of ecosystem degradation) 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 Modifications 7.2 Dams & Water management/use Small dams Large dams Dams (size unknown)

9. Pollution – 9.1 Domestic & urban waste water Sewage Run-off Type Unknown/Unrecorded – 9.2 Industrial & military effluents Oil spills Seepage from mining Type Unknown/Unrecorded – 9.3 Agricultural & forestry effluents Nutrient loads Soil erosion, sedimentation Herbicides and pesticides 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 strong evidence 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 Harvest management – Management of harvest – fishing effort controls 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 International level – CITES – a more general international agreement (than – trade management) for the species itself or a group of species (e.g. hammerheads) National level Sub-national level 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 International level National level Sub-national level Scale unspecified

Threats and Conservation Actions Any questions?