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IUCN Conservation Status of Species Prof. K. Kathiresan Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology Annamalai University G lobally mangroves continue to disappear. Hence, assessment of conservation status of the mangrove species assumes great importance. In Indian mangrove systems, 67% of mangrove plants, 52% of macroalgae, 10% of invertebrates and 4% of vertebrates are endangered (e.g. Ananda Rao et al., 1998). None of the mangrove species has entered the IUCN Red list, although the world conservation union (IUCN) recognizes many mangrove‐associated plant and animal species in the red list. The mangrove ecosystems deserve intensive care to save threatened taxa from extinction. IUCN Categories The fig.1 outlines the New IUCN Red List categories. It will be possible to place all taxa into one of the categories. Extinct
Extinct in the wild
Critically Endangered
Threatened
Endangered
Vulnerable
Adequate
data
Conservation Dependent
Lower Risk
Near Threatened
Least concern
Evaluated
Data Deficient
Not Evaluated
Fig. 1. IUCN Red List Categories IUCN Criteria, Used to Assess Status of Species ¾ A. Declining population ¾ B. Occurrence & Distribution ¾ C. Population Size & Decline 69 IUCN Conservation Status of Species
¾ D. Very small or Restricted population ¾ E. Probability of extinction CRITERION – A Declining Population (in 10 years or 3 generations) 80% Critically Endangered 50% Endangered 20% Vulnerable Either 1. Estimated in the Past a. Direct observation 2. Projected in the Future b. Abundance c. Decline in area of occupancy, or quality of habitat d. Levels of Exploitation e. Effects of introduced taxa, hybridization, pathogen, pollution, competitors or parasites Based on: CRITERION – B Occurrence & Distribution Extent of Occurrence < 100 km2 Critically Endangered < 5,000 km2 Endangered < 20,000 km2 Vulnerable (or) Area of occupancy < 10 km2 Critically Endangered < 5,00 km2 Endangered < 2,000 km2 Vulnerable and any 2 of the following 3: 1. Severely fragmented 1 location Critically Endangered <5 locations Endangered <10 locations Vulnerable 2. Continuing decline in any of the following a. Extent of occurrence K. Kathiresan 68
b. Area of occupancy c. Area, Extent &/or quality of habitat d. No. of locations e. No. of matured individuals 3. Fluctuating in any of the following a. Extent of Occurrence b. Area of occupancy c. No. of locations d. No. of mature individuals CRITERION – C Small Population Size & Decline No. of mature individuals < 250 Critically Endangered <2,500 Endangered <10,000 Vulnerable and any 1 of the following 2 1. Rapid decline 25% in 3 years or 1 generation Critically Endangered 20% in 5 years or 2 generation Endangered 10% in 10 years or 3 generation Vulnerable 2. Continuing decline & either a. Fragmented < 50 Critically Endangered <250 Endangered <1000 Vulnerable (or) b. All individuals in a single sub‐population CRITERION – D Very Small or Restricted No. of mature individuals < 50 Critically Endangered < 250 Endangered < 1000 Vulnerable CRITERION – E Quantitative Analysis on Probability of Extinction 50% in 10 years or 3 generations Critically Endangered 69 IUCN Conservation Status of Species
20% in 20 years or 5 generations Endangered 10% in 100 years Vulnerable Based on the above‐said criteria, all the taxa will be placed into one of the categories as follows: 1. Extinct: A taxon is extinct when the individuals died completely. 2. Critically endangered: A taxon is critically endangered when it is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. 3. Endangered: A taxon is endangered when it is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. 4. Vulnerable: A taxon is vulnerable when it is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. 5. Lower risk: A taxon is of lower risk when it does not qualify for any of the above categories. Status Book The Red Data Book provides information about the species under high extinction risk, so as to focus attention on conservation of them. The threatened species categories in Red Data Books and Red Lists have been used for over 30 years. The categories have been modified (Mace & Lande, 1991). This New IUCN Red list categories (Fig. 1) provide a system that facilitates comparison across widely different taxa based on population and distribution criteria. References Ananda Rao, T., Molur, S. and Walker, S. (Eds.) 1998. Report of the workshop on ‘Conservation assessment and Management plan for mangroves of India’ zoo outreach organization, Coimbatore, India, pp. 106. Mace, G.M. and Lande, R. (1991). “Assessing extinction threats: toward a re‐
evaluation of IUCN threatened species categories”, Conservation Biology, 5‐2: 148 ‐ 157. Susie Ellis and Ulysses S. Seal (1997) (Ed.). Conservation Assessment and Management plan workshop process. Reference Manual. 2nd Indian edition. (Revised by Sally walker and Sanjay Molur).