World's biodiversity on the verge of extinction

New data States World Conservation (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources / IUCN) indicates that the loss of biodiversity is increasing. 

In Red List of Endangered Species in 2006 (Red List of Threatened Species 2006), IUCN announced that 784 species of flora and fauna have become extinct since 1500, and now after only 65 species that can survive in a state of arrested or maintained.

A quarter of the estimated 40,177 species as threatened with extinction. In 2004, among the most endangered species is one of the eight birds and one of four mammals. Red data that have been updated are also adding one third of amphibians and a quarter of the trees konnifer world.

Eventually this akir, threats such as climate change, worsening the situation of threatened species. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus), for example, can be one of the most important victim of global warming. Scientists estimate that the species until the year 2050 the population will decline by 30% and red data will change the status to Vulnerable.

"With global warming which is now combined with the traditional causes such as widespread loss of habitat and the impact of species invasion, we are increasingly lost their lives this earth," said Russell A. Mittermeier, President of Conservation International (CI) and Chairman of the Species Survival Commission Primate Group of IUCN. "Extinction crisis is most evident in Central and South America, where there merger impacts of climate change and the destruction of a new outbreak has caused the loss of 130 species of amphibians."

The impact of climate change also penetrated into the sea and the species within them. For the first time in the history of the Red List, IUCN published the results of a comprehensive regional assessment of selected marine groups, including sharks and stingrays. Of 547 species listed, 20% of them are threatened with extinction.

High demand of seafood and marine products such as oil, drain the sea content more quickly than the reproduction of species such as sharks fairies (Squatina squatina) and stingrays (Dipturus Batis) who were on the verge of extinction. Based on data from the IUCN, plants and animals are not safer in biomass of fresh water. In the Mediterranean alone, 252 species of endemic freshwater fish, 56% of them are highly endangered in the state.

Data for conservation

According to Mike Hoffman at the Center for Applied Biodiversity Science CI, IUCN Red List is widely recognized as a source of data that can be trusted extinction "gold standard global threat status of species." However, the data is better than a simple discovery. In the plan priorities and conservation efforts, the scientists and the protectors of nature throughout the world rely on these Red List data.

"Everything that CI is doing very dependent on the IUCN Red Data," said Thomas Brooks, Head of the Department of Conservation Synthesis cabs. "The data is the basis for us in identifying the key areas of biodiversity, as species requiring conservation action both in the sea or inland areas through biodiversity conservation corridors."

Based on this, the CI has a grip on quality, suitability and usefulness of the Red List. Since 2000, CI has worked with IUCN, NatureServe, and Bird Life International, contributing financial, technical, and human resources assistance to support the Red List assessment process. With its partners, CI is intended to increase the scope and accuracy of the source and show patterns and conservation of biodiversity directly.

Red List of Endangered Species in 2006 clearly demonstrated the negative trends of biodiversity, but also noted the success in improving the conservation of some endangered species. European white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), for example, during the 1990s the population has doubled and now become Worried Last level. Just like in Australia, seabird Abbott (Papasula abbotti) gradually improved from the impact of habitat destruction and invasion of species. IUCN lowered Endangered status of the conditions to be under threat Intensive Care.

"These examples show that the measurements carried out under the protection of nature to make a change. But what we need is more than that," said Achim Steiner, Director General of IUCN. "The success of our documentation for it is not just stand passively aside the tragedy of loss of biodiversity and extinction of species. IUCN with various other actors in the global conservation community will continue to support greater investments in biodiversity and to mobilize new coalitions across all sectors of society.