Determining Conservation Status
- International cooperation is essential if conservation is to be successful
- There are several agreements and authorities that exist within and between countries with the aim of protecting and conserving species worldwide
IUCN
- The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it
- One of the duties that the IUCN carries out is assessing the conservation status of animal and plant species around the world
- Scientists use data and modelling to estimate the category each species should be in
- Factors used to determine the conservation status of a population include:
- Population size (smaller populations are usually at a greater risk of extinction)
- Degree of specialisation
- Distribution
- Reproductive potential and behaviour
- Geographic range
- Degree of endemicity (i.e. if the species is only found in a single specific area)
- Degree of habitat fragmentation
- Quality of habitat
- Trophic level (animals in higher trophic levels are usually at a greater risk of extinction)
- Probability of extinction
- The IUCN has their own classification system
- There are several different categories and levels that a species can fall into depending on its population numbers and the threats and risks to those populations
- Animals that are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ can be seen online as this list is made public
The IUCN classification system of species - scientists are continually updating and reviewing the conservation status of species
