The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has released an update of their Red List, and believe the success we've made in conservation is being overshadowed by declining species populations.
The report shows the Iberian Lynx and the Guadalupe Fur Seal have seen significant increases in population, but the African Golden Cat, the New Zealand Sea Lion and the Lion are facing increasing threats to their survival. A shocking 99 percent of the highly prized tropical Asian slipper orchids are also facing extinction.
The Red List now contains 77,340 assessed species, 22,784 of which are threatened with extinction. Degradation of habitats is believed to be the primary threat to 85 percent of these species, with illegal trade and invasive species close behind.
"This IUCN Red List update confirms that effective conservation can yield outstanding results. Saving the Iberian Lynx from the brink of extinction while securing the livelihoods of local communities is a perfect example," said Inger Andersen, IUCN Director General. "But this update is also a wake-up call, reminding us that our natural world is becoming increasingly vulnerable. The international community must urgently step up conservation efforts if we want to secure this fascinating diversity of life that sustains, inspires and amazes us every day."
The Iberian lynx population saw almost 60 years of significant decline, but increased from 52 mature individuals in 2002 to 156 in 2012. The species has now been moved from "critically endangered" to "endangered" on the Red Lost. The improvements are believed to have been achieved through "intensive conservation action," including the restoration of populations of key prey rabbits. The species can be found in two regions of southwestern Spain as well as southeastern Portugal. The Guadalupe fur seal population has also jumped from 200 to 500 individuals in the 1950s to around 20,000 in 2010.
On the other hand, African Golden Cat has been moved from "near threatened" to "vulnerable" on the Red List due to population decline. The New Zealand Se Lion, which is one of the rarest sea lion sin the world, has been moved from "vulnerable" to "endangered." Two species of crab, Karstama balicum and Karstama emdi, have also been listed as Critically Endangered.
In the new report, no new species have been listed as extinct, but 14 species have been assessed as " endangered" and could potentially be extinct. These species include the evergreen Magnolia emarginata and 10 species of orchid endemic to Madagascar.
"It is encouraging to see several species improve in status due to conservation action," says Jane Smart, Director, IUCN's Global Species Program. "However, this update shows that we are still seeing devastating losses in species populations. The IUCN Red List is the voice of biodiversity telling us where we need to focus our attention most urgently - this voice is clearly telling us that we must act now to develop stronger policy and on-the-ground conservation [programs] to protect species and halt their declines."
