Setting Conservation Priorities

Question 1

What are the roles of the IUCN?

Answer 1

• Coordinating global data on biodiversity conservation

• Increasing understanding and importance of biodiversity

• Deploying nature based solutions to global challenges is climate, food and sustainable development

IUCN categorises species based on their vulnerability to extinction

Question 2

What are the IUCN red list categories?

Answer 2

Extinct- no known individuals remain

Extinct in wild - only in captivity

Critically Endangered - Extremely high risk of extinction in wild

Endangered - high risk of extinction in wild

Vulnerable - high risk of becoming endangered

Near threatened - likely to become endangered in future

Least concern - low risk of becoming endangered

Data-deficient - insufficient info got categorisation

Question 3

What are the criteria used to select species for categorisation

Answer 3

EDGE species - Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered
—> few close relatives

Endemic species - only found in one area
—> no surviving populations if it dies
out locally

Keystone species - important role is maintaining ecological structure of community
—> Elephants keep paths open, spread seed and keep water holes open

Flagship species - high public profile
—> raising support to protect them
may have wide benefit for
conservation in general

Question 4

What are the DPAs?

Answer 4

SSSI
SAC
SPA
NNR
LNR
MPA
MCZ
Ramsar sites

Question 5

What are trade controls?

Answer 5

CITES - main international agreement that regulates international trade in wildlife

• Appendix 1 - species threatened with extinction; all international trade is banned bar movement for conservation breeding programmes

• Appendix 2 - species that may be threatened w extinction; trade permitted from countries where species is well protected
—> exploitation doesn’t threaten
survival

Question 6

What is the International Whaling Commission (IWC)

Answer 6

Aim to regulate and mandible whaling

Ensure whaling is sustainable by
- total protection for certain species
and mothers/calves
- limitations on numbers/size
- designation of whale sanctuaries

Whaling can take place for
• Aboriginal subsistence a curtail groups who have hunted whales for food permitted
• Scientific whaling - killing for research
• Commercial whaling

Question 7

What is the Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union? (EU CFP)

Answer 7

Series of regulations that control fishing in EU waters

Regulations cover
• catch quotas
• size limits, smaller fish can grow
• net mesh size regulations, allow
smaller fish to escape
• ban on discarding unwanted fish

Question 8

What is the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO)

Answer 8

Aims to encourage sustainable management of tropical rainforests