ホッキョクグマの生存にとって、気候変動はもっとも深刻な脅威となる

Embargoed until: 00:01 GMT 19 November 2015
ホッキョクグマの生存にとって、気候変動はもっとも
深刻な脅威となる（IUCN レッドリスト）
スイス、グラン発 2015 年 11 月 19 日（IUCN）－IUCN（国際自然保護連合）が 19 日発表した、最新のレッ
ドリストによると、ホッキョクグマの世界的な再評価を行った結果、温暖化を原因とした海氷域の喪失が、長
期的な視点では当種の存続にとって、もっとも大きな脅威となるとした。
更に、今回の発表では、多くの菌類（キノコ類など）にとって、生育地の劣化が主要な脅威であると強調。ま
た、過剰漁獲が海産硬骨魚の減少に対する主要因であると強調した。レッドリストは、現在 79,837 種を評
価し、内 23,250 種が絶滅の危機にある。
ホッキョクグマ（Ursus maritimus）の再評価では、コンピューターシュミレーションと統計モデルに加え、最
新の海氷と地域個体群のデータを使用し、海氷の変化によって引き起こされる地域個体群の大きさの変化
を示した。これは、今までで最も包括的な評価である。その結果、世界のホッキョクグマの個体数は、今後
35 から 40 年で、30%以上減少する可能性が高いとされた。この評価は、これまでのホッキョクグマの
IUCN レッドリストカテゴリー「絶滅危惧Ⅱ類」の評価を支持する結果である。
「最新の、最も堅固な科学に基づき、気候変動はホッキョクグマの生存にとって深刻な脅威となり続ける証
拠を、この評価は提供する」と、IUCN 事務局長のインガー・アンダーセン氏は述べる。
「気候変動の影響は、この象徴的な種をはるかに超え、私達の地球が今まで直面した事のないような脅威
をもたらす。今月末にパリで開催される気候変動に関するサミット※での政府間会合で、このかつてない課
題に向き合うのに見合う、しっかりとした合意に達するよう全力を尽くす必要がある。」
（※訳注：気候変動枠組条約第 21 回締約国会議）
近年の調査によると、北極海の海氷の損失は、ほとんどの気候変動モデルが予想したよりも更に早く進行
している。1979 年から 2011 年の間、変動はあるが 10 年間に 14%の割合で、9 月の海氷面積が減少して
いる。ホッキョクグマは、獲物を捕る際に海氷を必要とすることから、海氷がない期間が 5 ヶ月間あるいはそ
れ以上となると、長期的な絶食期間が延びてしまうこととなる。そうなると、いくつかの地域では、繁殖率の
低下や餓死の増大に繋がる可能性がある。
近年の海氷に関する予測によると、カナダ北極諸島の広い地域において、21 世紀末ごろまでに、海氷ゼロ
の期間が 5 カ月を超えることになる。更に、北極のその他の地域においては、5 ヶ月間ゼロは、21 世紀半
ばまでに起きてしまう。北極の気温が上がることは、餌となるアザラシなどの生息地を減少させると共に、
病気の発生率を高め、ホッキョクグマにとって更なるリスクとなる。
ホッキョクグマは、先住民族の生活にとって重要であると同時に、北極地域の生態系の頂点の捕食者とし
て、生態系バランスの維持にとっても不可欠な存在である。海氷の損失と同時に、開発に伴う汚染や資源
探索、開発による生息地の改変など、その他の潜在的な脅威もある。北極での石油開発は、石油の流出
問題から人とホッキョクグマのあつれきまで広い範囲での危機をもたらす。
「海氷の損失は、ホッキョクグマにとって中心的な脅威となるが、顕在化している脅威、もしくは将来的な脅
威を含めて、幅広い脅威をホッキョクグマの管理計画の中で考慮する必要がある。」と IUCN の種の保存委
員会、ホッキョクグマの専門家委員会委員長である、ダグ・フォングラベン氏は述べた。「ホッキョクグマ生
息地の州・政府が、環北極域行動計画に合意したことは、明るい話題である。この行動計画は、野生のホ
ッキョクグマの長期的な生存に対する、はじめての世界的な保全戦略である。IUCN は、これらの国々と積
極的に協働し、科学的な情報を提供し、効果的かつ一貫した最善の方法で、合意されたプランの実行を手
助けするアドバイスを行っている。我々は、この行動計画が、ホッキョクグマの保護活動に大きな成果をも
たらすことを心から願っている。」
今回のアップデートでは、29 の菌類が評価され、IUCN レッドリスト上での菌類の評価種数は 2 倍以上とな
った。主要な脅威となっているのは、土地利用形態の変化、生育地の損失と劣化である。アメリカ合衆国カ
リフォルニア州の限られたセコイヤの林に生息する、カラフルなイッポンシメジ科 Leptonia
属のキノコ（Leptonia carnea）は、絶滅危惧Ⅱ類に指定された。干ばつの増加や、霧の発生減少といった
カリフォルニアの気候の変化が、当種の生息地にインパクトを与えている。絶滅危惧ⅠB 類として指定され
ているセコイヤ (Sequoia sempervirens) の継続的な伐採も、当種に対する主要な脅威の一因である。
菌類は、動植物の生存を支える、必要不可欠な生態系サービスを提供している。全植物の 80%と共生関
係にあり、ヒツジやウシなどの反すう動物の消化システムとって、きわめて重要な役割を担っている。抗生
物質であるペニシリンは、アオカビから生成された。今日のほとんどの抗生物質とスタチン（血清コレステロ
ールのレベルを下げる際に使用される）は、菌類由来のものである。菌類はパン、ビール、ワイン、チーズ
やその他たくさんの食品製造にも使用される。
今回の IUCN レッドリストのアップデートによって、外界の影響を受けやすい沿岸生息地の劣化や、汚染、
乱獲、破壊的な漁業慣行によって、東中央大西洋とカリブ海地域において沢山の海産硬骨魚を危機に追
いやっていることが明らかになった。カリブ海地域においては、外来種であるミノカサゴも危機要因の一つ
である。
東中央大西洋（モーリタニアからアンゴラ、沿岸から深海）に生息する、1,400 種の海産硬骨魚の世界的な
評価の結果、彼らの 3%が絶滅の危機に瀕していることが明らかになった。
ソコダラ科ホカケダラ属の魚(Coryphaenoides rupestris)は、乱獲により絶滅危惧ⅠA 類となった。カリブ海
において、1,340 種が評価され、それらの 5%が絶滅の危機にある。絶滅危惧ⅠB 類として評価されたアマ
ダイの一種である Coryphaenoides rupestris もそのひとつである。当種は、商業的漁業にとって重要な種
であり、アマダイの仲間の中で最も大きく、1.25m まで育つこともある。当種は、過剰漁獲により、48 年間で
個体数が 66%減少した。
海産硬骨魚は、魚の中でも最も大きなグループであり、生態的にも経済的にも重要である。これらの種の
損失は、当エリアに住む 3 億 4 千万人の食の安全と生計に深刻な危機を引き起こす可能性がある。今後
20 年から 25 年の間に人口が倍増することも予想されるなかで、この新しいデータは、漁業マネジメントと、
優先的に保全を行う地域の特定を含む、保全の優先順位付けを行う際の指針として使用されるだろう。
「これらのアセスメントは、特定地域において総合的かつ基盤となる情報として初めてのものだ。海洋保護
区や絶滅危惧種の指定や管理の改善にとって欠かせないものとなるだろう」と IUCN の海洋生物多様性ユ
ニットのマネージャーであるケント・カーペンターは言う。「これらのデータは、保全の利益を最大化させる、
国家・地域レベルでの漁業管理を改善するためのより効果的な取り組みの展開につながるだろう」
新しく再評価された 24 種の絶滅危惧ⅠA 類は、外来種と生息地の破壊により、ほぼ絶滅したとみなされる
近絶滅種であるとされた。ハワイのカウアイ島固有の植物として生息するハハと呼ばれるキキョウ科の仲
間(Cyanea kolekoleensis)は、絶滅危惧ⅠA 類（近絶滅）と評価された。ブタといくつかの外来種により生
息地が脅かされており、1998 年から観察の記録がない。マダガスカルでしか見られない 11 種のランも、同
ランクとして評価され、絶滅の可能性がある。違法採集と森林伐採により生育の脅かされていたラン科の
仲間（Bulbophyllum tampoketsens）も含まれる。
アリコミズガエル (Telmatobius pefauri)も、1976 年から観察の記録がなく、絶滅危惧ⅠA 類（近絶滅）と評
価された。このカエルは、人間の水利用と畜牛の大規模放牧によって危機に瀕しており、専門家によると、
生息地である小川への、畜牛による踏みつけも影響の一つであると言われている。
Notes to editors
アユモドキ(Parabotia curtus)：日本の淡水魚であるが、近く工事が始まる可能性のあるスタジアム建設のた
めに、深刻な脅威にさらされている。
IUCN（International Union for Conservation of Nature,国際自然保護連合）とは
IUCN は、1948 年に設立された世界で最も古く、最大の、自然および自然資源の保全と持続可能な利用に
関する世界最大のネットワーク。
「自然を尊び、保全する公平な世界」「自然利用の効果的かつ公平なガバナンス」「気候変動・食糧・開発問
題に対する、自然を基本とした解決の展開」を目指している。
およそ、1,300 の政府・非政府機関、185 カ国からの 15,000 人の科学者・専門家が、独特の世界規模での
協力関係を築いている機関です。IUCN のプログラムは、45 のオフィスで働く 1,000 人のスタッフに支えら
れ実施されている。
NEWS RELEASE
Embargoed until: 00:01 GMT 19 November 2015
New assessment highlights climate change as
most serious threat to polar bear survival - IUCN
Red List
Gland, Switzerland, 19 November 2015 (IUCN) – A global re-assessment of polar bears highlights loss of sea
ice habitat due to climate warming as the single most important threat to the long-term survival of the species,
according to the latest update of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ released today by IUCN,
International Union for Conservation of Nature.
This update also highlights habitat degradation as a main threat to many fungus species and over-fishing as
the key driver of decline in marine bony fish. The IUCN Red List now includes 79,837 assessed species, of
which 23,250 are threatened with extinction.
The re-assessment of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) used the most current sea ice and sub-population data,
along with computer simulation and statistical models, to project potential changes in the size of polar bear
sub-populations due to changes in sea ice. It is the most comprehensive assessment of this data to date. The
results show that there is a high probability that the global polar bear population will decline by more than 30%
over the next 35 to 40 years. The assessment supports the current Vulnerable status of the polar bear on The
IUCN Red List.
“Based on the latest, most robust science, this assessment provides evidence that climate change will continue
to seriously threaten polar bear survival in the future,” says Inger Andersen, IUCN Director General. “Climate
change impacts go far beyond this iconic species, and present a threat our planet has never faced before.
Governments meeting at the climate summit in Paris later this month will need to go all out to strike a deal
strong enough to confront this unprecedented challenge.”
Recent studies show that the loss of Arctic sea ice has progressed faster than most climate models had
predicted, with September sea ice extent declining at a linear rate of 14% per decade from 1979 through 2011.
As polar bears rely on sea ice to access their prey, an annual ice-free period of five months or more will cause
extended fasting for the species, which is likely to lead to increased reproductive failure and starvation in some
areas. According to recent sea ice projections, large regions of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago will be ice free
st
for more than five months by the late 21 century; and in other parts of the Arctic, the five-month ice-free
st
threshold may be reached by the middle of the 21 century. Warming Arctic temperatures could also reduce
habitat and increase the incidence of disease for prey species such as ice seals, placing the polar bear at
further risk.
Polar bears are important to the livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples and, as apex predators, are essential to
maintaining ecosystem balance in the Arctic region. Along with sea ice loss, other potential threats to the
species include pollution, resource exploration and habitat change due to development. Oil development in the
Arctic, for example, poses a wide range of threats, from oil spills to increased human-bear interaction.
“Whilst sea ice loss is the major threat to polar bears, the full range of current and potential threats must be
considered in polar bear management plans,” says Dag Vongraven, Chair of IUCN’s Species Survival
Commission’s (SSC) Polar Bear Specialist Group. “It is encouraging that polar bear range states have
recently agreed on a Circumpolar Action Plan – the first global conservation strategy to strive for the long-term
persistence of polar bears in the wild. IUCN is actively working with those countries, providing scientific data
and advice to help implement the agreed plan in the most efficient and cohesive way possible. We truly hope
that the action plan will make a difference for polar bear conservation.”
Twenty-nine fungi have been assessed in this update, more than doubling the number of fungi on The IUCN
Red List. The main threats affecting the species are habitat loss and degradation, mostly from changing land
use practices. The colourful Leptonia carnea, which has been listed as Vulnerable, is confined to the coastal
redwood forest of California, USA. Changes in the Californian climate – increased droughts and reduced
occurrence of fog – are impacting the habitat. Continued logging of the redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) which
is listed as Endangered, is another major threat to the fungus.
Fungi provide essential ecosystem services which support animals and plants. They have a symbiotic
relationship with 80% of all plants and form a crucial part of the digestive system of ruminants such as sheep
and cows. Fungi are also extremely important to humans as medicine and food. The antibiotic Penicillin was
derived from the fungus Penicillium, and today most antibiotics and statins (commonly used to lower blood
cholesterol), are fungal in origin. Fungi are also used to make bread, beer, wine, cheese and many other foods.
This IUCN Red List update also reveals that the degradation of sensitive coastal habitats, pollution,
overexploitation and destructive fishing practices are putting many marine bony fishes at risk of extinction in
the East Central Atlantic and Greater Caribbean regions with the invasive lionfish placing further pressure in
the Caribbean The global assessment of the 1,400 marine bony fishes including both nearshore fishes and
deep-sea fishes of the Eastern Central Atlantic – covering the area from Mauritania to Angola – shows that 3%
are threatened with extinction. The roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris), is listed as Critically
Endangered due to overexploitation. In the Caribbean, 1,340 species were assessed, and of these 5% are
threatened with extinction, including the golden tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) which is listed as
Endangered. An important commercial fishery species, it is the largest species of tilefish and can reach up to
1.25 metres in length. Its population has declined by 66% over the last 48 years due to over-fishing.
Marine bony fishes are the largest group of fish and are both ecologically and economically important. The loss
of these species would pose a serious threat to the food security and livelihoods of more than 340 million
people in these regions. With the human population expected to double in the next 20 to 25 years, this new
data will be used to guide fisheries management and conservation priorities in the regions, including the
identification of priority sites for conservation action.
“These assessments are the first of their kind, providing comprehensive baseline information within a specified
region, which is critical for the designation and improved management of marine protected areas and
threatened marine species,” says Kent Carpenter, Manager of IUCN’s Marine Biodiversity Unit. “The data
should also lead to the development of more effective initiatives to improve national and regional fisheries
management to maximise conservation benefits.”
A total of 24 newly assessed Critically Endangered species are highlighted as being possibly extinct, primarily
due to threats from invasive species and habitat destruction. Haha (Cyanea kolekoleensis), a plant species
native to the island of Kauai, Hawaiʻi, is listed as Critically Endangered/(Possibly Extinct). Its habitat is
threatened by pigs and several invasive plant species, and there have been no recorded sightings since 1998.
Eleven orchid species found only in Madagascar have been listed as Critically Endangered/(Possibly Extinct)
including Bulbophyllum tampoketsens, which is threatened due to illegal collection and deforestation. Arico
water frog (Telmatobius pefauri) is listed as Critically Endangered/(Possibly Extinct) because it has not been
seen since 1976. This frog is threatened by water extraction for human use and for cattle ranching; it may also
be affected by cattle trampling the stream habitats according to the experts.
###
IUCN Red List Partner quotes
“The importance of climate change as a threat to iconic species on the IUCN Red List is further underlined by a ground-breaking report to be released shortly by
BirdLife International and the National Audubon Society ahead of the UNFCCC meeting on climate change in Paris,” says Stuart Butchart, Head of Science
Birdlife International. “The messengers: what birds tell us about threats from climate change and solutions for nature and people highlights how climate change
poses major risks to the survival of many bird species, but also illustrates the solutions that BirdLife Partners, IUCN and others are implementing to help species
adapt, and the importance of nature-based solutions for people.”
“The most recent Red List update highlights primary threats of climate change in polar bears, habitat loss for fungi, overexploitation for marine fish, and invasive
species for a Possibly Extinct plant in Hawai’i, says Dr. Thomas E. Lacher, Jr., Texas A&M University. “The reality, however, is that all these threats act
simultaneously on species, often greatly reinforcing the overall risk of extinction. Although we can isolate primary threats, it is important to consider all possible
threats in designing effective conservation actions. The Red List does just that be presenting in the assessments information on all active threats, so that
governments and organizations have the necessary data to have comprehensive recovery plans.”
Notes to editors
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ contributes to the achievement of Target 12 of the 2011 to 2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity.
Target 12: By 2020 the extinction of known threatened species has been prevented and their conservation status, particularly of those most
in decline, has been improved and sustained.
Global figures for the 2015-4 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:
TOTAL SPECIES ASSESSED = 79,837
(Total threatened species = 23,250)
Extinct = 834
Extinct in the Wild = 69
Critically Endangered = 4,898
Endangered = 7,323
Vulnerable = 11,029
Near Threatened = 5,204
Lower Risk/conservation dependent = 238 (this is an old category that is gradually being phased out of The IUCN Red List)
Least Concern = 37,224
Data Deficient = 13,018
The figures presented above are only for those species that have been assessed for The IUCN Red List to date. Although not all of the world’s
species have been assessed, The IUCN Red List provides a useful snapshot of what is happening to species today and highlights the urgent
need for conservation action. Relative percentages for threatened species cannot be provided for many taxonomic groups on The IUCN Red
List because they have not been comprehensively assessed. For many of these groups, assessment efforts have focussed on threatened
species; therefore, the percentage of threatened species for these groups would be heavily biased.
For those groups that have been comprehensively assessed, the percentage of threatened species can be calculated, but the actual number
of threatened species is often uncertain because it is not known whether Data Deficient (DD) species are actually threatened or not. Therefore,
the percentages presented above provide the best estimate of extinction risk for those groups that have been comprehensively assessed
(excluding Extinct species), based on the assumption that Data Deficient species are equally threatened as data sufficient species. In other
words, this is a mid-point figure within a range from x% threatened species (if all DD species are not threatened) to y% threatened species (if
all DD species are threatened). Available evidence indicates that this is a best estimate.
The IUCN Red List threat categories are as follows, in descending order of threat:
Extinct or Extinct in the Wild
Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable: species threatened with global extinction.
Near Threatened: species close to the threatened thresholds or that would be threatened without ongoing specific conservation measures.
Least Concern: species evaluated with a lower risk of extinction.
Data Deficient: no assessment because of insufficient data.
Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct): this is not a new IUCN Red List category, but is a flag developed to identify those Critically
Endangered species that are in all probability already Extinct but for which confirmation is required; for example, through more extensive
surveys being carried out and failing to find any individuals.
Highlights from the 2015-4 update
Below are a few examples of species that have been uplisted, downlisted or appear for the first time on The IUCN Red List.
Examples of other species that have been added in this update
Regional assessments of the Persian Gulf marine bony fishes
The extinction risk of 457 marine bony fishes in the Persian Gulf was regionally assessed using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria
at the regional level. Results from these regional assessments indicate that 8.5% of marine bony fishes in the Persian Gulf are considered
threatened. However, the proportion of threatened species is uncertain given the number of Data Deficient species, and could lie between
6.8% (if none of the Data Deficient species were threatened) to 26.7% (if all of the Data Deficient species were threatened). Anthropogenic
and environmental extremes are constant threats to marine bony fishes in the Persian Gulf. The newly added regional assessments will
transform the current level of knowledge on these species and provide scientists and conservation managers across the region with the
information and tools they need to develop more effective marine conservation priorities. However, cross-boundary collaboration between
Persian Gulf States is necessary in order for effective management and protection of the marine bony fishes and their associated habitats
within this globally important region.
Regional assessments of marine bony shorefishes of the Gulf of Mexico
Regional extinction risk was assessed for 919 species of marine bony shorefishes in the Gulf of Mexico using the IUCN Red List Categories
and Criteria at the Regional level. Results from this regional assessment show that 4.3% of these species are considered threatened in the
Gulf of Mexico region, including a number of large-bodied commercial species (this is the best estimate within the range of 3.8 to14.5%
threatened, if the number if DD species is taken into consideration). Forty six of these shorefishes are endemic to this region, and 26% of
these endemic species are listed as globally threatened. Besides threats from overexploitation and coastal development, the potential for
catastrophic events such as oil spills haunts the Gulf of Mexico marine ecoregion. This new data now establishes a baseline of the
region-wide conservation status of species and thus will improve the effectiveness of restoration and management efforts.
Freshwater fishes
Kissing loach (Parabotia curtus), a freshwater fish from Japan, is under extreme threat from a development for a football stadium that is due
to start soon.
Fungi
Agaricus pattersoniae, listed as Vulnerable, is endemic to coastal central California (USA). It lives alongside the occurring in Monterey
cypress (Cuppressus macrocarpa) which is also listed as Vulnerable. The fungus needs an undisturbed layer of old pine needles to survive.
Habitat destruction for urban development and increasing fire frequency are the main threats.
Plants for People
Utleria salicifolia, a medicinal plant, has been listed as Vulnerable. It is used for treating asthma and skin diseases. Threatened by
unregulated collection, artificial forest fire and habitat degradation.
Atlas daisy (Anacyclus pyrethrum) listed as Vulnerable is found in Morocco. It is used to treat many diseases and conditions including
speech disorders, laryngitis, sickle cell anaemia, epilepsy and depression. Premature exploitation and bad collection practices of the wild
species often destroy the entire plant, preventing it from growing again.
Quercus acutifolia, listed as Vulnerable, is a species of oak which is used locally as firewood and charcoal, as well as for tools, fence posts,
and small-scale building and construction materials. The bark can be used medicinally for the treatment of burns. Climate change poses a
major threat. A recent study (Gomez-Mendoza and Arriaga 2007) identified the species as highly vulnerable to range contractions under
multiple climate scenarios, projecting declines in distribution of up to 41% under projections by 2050.
Rediscovered species
Mahé Boulder Cricket (Phalangacris alluaudi) was previously listed as a Possibly Extinct species. However, it was rediscovered in 2014 and
is now listed as Critically Endangered.
Examples of other species that have been uplisted (conservation status is worse)
Atacama toad (Rhinella atacamensis) has been uplisted from Least Concern to Vulnerable. Endemic to Chile, this toad has undergone an
estimated 35 to 40% decline over the past 10 years due to habitat loss and degradation, which has increased in recent years. Extensive
droughts and water pollution in rivers threaten the future of this species. Abstraction of surface water (both for human consumption and for
agricultural use), mining, agriculture, livestock farming and timber plantations are also affecting it.
Spotted fanaloka (Fossa fossana) has been uplisted from Near Threatened to Vulnerable. Endemic to Madagascar, this is a nocturnal
species, which is restricted to primary forest areas. It is threatened by deforestation for cultivated land, and by forest degradation through
selective logging and charcoal production. It is also threatened by hunting.
Geometric tortoise (Psammobates geometricus) has been uplisted from Endangered to Critically Endangered. Endemic to the Western
Cape, South Africa, this tortoise’s range has reduced dramatically. It has also undergone massive population declines: in 1992, the largest
subpopulation was estimated to contain between 1,500 and 3,400 tortoises, but in 2012, the entire global population was estimated to be
between 700 and 800. Over 90% of its original habitat has been irreversibly converted to agriculture, and populations in remaining habitat
have suffered catastrophic declines from fire-induced mortality, with little indication of population recovery.
Examples of other species that have been downlisted (conservation status is better)
Hamilton’s Frog (Leiopelma hamiltoni) has been downlisted from Endangered to Vulnerable. The only naturally occurring population is
confined to a single rock tumble on Stephens Island (New Zealand). The total population size was previously estimated to be less than 300
mature animals. Since then, a translocated subpopulation has been successfully established on Nukuwaiata Island site. Therefore, the total
population size is now estimated to be between 300 to 800 individuals, including the subpopulation in its original natural range and the
translocated subpopulation, and appears to be increasing.
####
About The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ (or The IUCN Red List) is an invaluable resource to guide conservation action and policy
decisions. It is a health check for our planet – a Barometer of Life. It is the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global
conservation status of plant, animal and fungi species. It is based on an objective system for assessing the risk of extinction of a species
should no conservation action be taken.
Species are assigned to one of eight categories of threat based on whether they meet criteria linked to population trend, population size and
structure and geographic range. Species listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable are collectively described as
‘threatened’.
The IUCN Red List is not just a register of names and associated threat categories. It is a rich compendium of information on the threats to the
species, their ecological requirements, where they live, and information on conservation actions that can be used to reduce or prevent
extinctions. The IUCN Red List is a joint effort between IUCN and its Species Survival Commission, working with its IUCN Red List partners
BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe; Microsoft; Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London. www.iucnredlist.org
https://www.facebook.com/iucn.red.list https://twitter.com/IUCNRedList http://support.iucnredlist.org/
About IUCN
IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and
development challenges. IUCN’s work focusses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use,
and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development. IUCN supports scientific research, manages
field projects all over the world, and brings governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice.
IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organisation, with almost 1,300 government and NGO Members and more than
15,000 volunteer experts in 185 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by almost 1,000 staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public,
NGO and private sectors around the world. www.iucn.org
About the Species Survival Commission
The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is the largest of IUCN’s six volunteer commissions with a global membership of around 7,500
experts. SSC advises IUCN and its members on the wide range of technical and scientific aspects of species conservation, and is dedicated
to securing a future for biodiversity. SSC has significant input into the international agreements dealing with biodiversity conservation.
About BirdLife
BirdLife International is the world’s largest nature conservation Partnership. Together we are 120 BirdLife Partners worldwide
– one per country – and growing, with almost 11 million supporters, 7,000 local conservation groups and 7,400 staff. Find out more at
www.birdlife.org / www.facebook.com/BirdLifeInternational
About Botanic Gardens Conservation International
BGCI is an international organisation that exists to ensure the world-wide conservation of threatened plants, the continued existence of which
are intrinsically linked to global issues including poverty, human well-being and climate change. BGCI represents over 700 members – mostly
botanic gardens – in 118 countries. We aim to support and empower our members and the wider conservation community so that their
knowledge and expertise can be applied to reversing the threat of extinction crisis facing one third of all plants. http://www.bgci.org
About Conservation International (CI)
Building upon a strong foundation of science, partnership and field demonstration, CI empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care
for nature, our global biodiversity, for the long term well-being of people. Founded in 1987 and marking its 25th anniversary in 2012, CI has
headquarters in the Washington DC area, and 900 employees working in nearly 30 countries on four continents, plus 1,000+ partners around
the world. For more information, please visit us at www.conservation.org, or follow us on
Facebook or Twitter.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses
realize their full potential. http://www.microsoft.com
About NatureServe
NatureServe is a non-profit conservation organisation dedicated to providing the scientific basis for effective conservation action. Through its
network of 82 natural heritage programmes and conservation data centres in the United States, Canada, and Latin America, NatureServe
provides a unique body of detailed scientific information and conservation biodiversity expertise about the plants, animals, and ecosystems of
the Americas. www.natureserve.org
About the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world-famous scientific organisation, internationally respected for its outstanding living collection of
plants and world-class Herbarium as well as its scientific expertise in plant diversity, conservation and sustainable development in the UK and
around the world. Kew Gardens is a major international visitor attraction. Its landscaped 132 hectares and RBG Kew’s country estate,
Wakehurst Place, attract nearly two million visitors every year. Kew was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003 and celebrated its
250th anniversary in 2009. Wakehurst Place is home to Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild plant seed bank in the world. RBG Kew
and its partners have collected and conserved seed from 10 percent of the world's wild flowering plant species (c.30,000 species). The aim is
to conserve 25 percent by 2020, and its enormous potential for future conservation can only be fulfilled with the support of the public and other
funders. www.kew.org
About Sapienza University of Rome
With over 700 years of history and 145,000 students, Sapienza is the largest University in Europe, the second in the world after El Cairo, a
city within the city. The University includes 11 faculties and 67 departments. In Sapienza there are over 4,500 professors, and 5,000
administrative and technical staff. Sapienza offers a wide choice of courses including 300 degree programmes and 200 specialized
qualifications. Students coming from other regions are over 30,000 and the foreign students are over 7,000. Sapienza plans and carries out
important scientific investigations in almost all disciplines, achieving high-standard results both on a national and on an international level.
Professor Luigi Frati has been the Rector of Sapienza University since November 2008. http://www.uniroma1.it/
About Texas A&M University
From humble beginnings in 1876 as Texas' first public institution of higher learning, to a bustling 5,200-acre campus with a nationally
recognized faculty, Texas A&M University is one of a select few universities with land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant designations. With an
enrolment of about half men and half women, 25 percent of the freshman class are the first in their family to attend college. Here, 39,000-plus
undergraduates and more than 9,400 graduate students have access to world-class research programs and award-winning faculty. Texas
A&M has two branch campuses, one in Galveston, Texas, and one in the Middle Eastern country of Qatar. This research-intensive flagship
university with 10 colleges was recently ranked first in the nation by Smart Money magazine for "pay-back ratio" (what graduates earn
compared to the cost of their education). The 2011 U.S. News and World Report ranked Texas A&M second nationally in their "Great Schools,
Great Prices" category among public universities and 22nd overall. Many degree programmes are ranked among the top 10 in the country.
www.tamu.edu
About Wildscreen
Wildscreen is an award-wining wildlife conservation charity that shares awe-inspiring images of life on Earth to empower conservation around
the world. It achieves its mission through its four interconnected initiatives - Wildscreen Arkive, Wildscreen Exchange. Wildscreen Festivals
and Wildscreen Outreach. Founded in 1982, Wildscreen inspires photographers and filmmakers to take the most vital images, uses those
images to inspire the next generation of conservationists online and in their communities, and arms conservation organisations around the
world with them ─ so their all-important stories have the best chance of being seen and heard. http://www.wildscreen.org
About the Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity: the key role is the
conservation of animals and their habitats. The Society runs ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, carries out scientific research at the
Institute of Zoology and is actively involved in field conservation in over 50 countries worldwide. www.zsl.org

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