Plants

Bastard Quiver Tree (Aloe pillansii) is a Critically Endangered tree aloe occurring primarily in the mountainous Richtersveld area of the Northern Cape, South Africa and southern Namibia. A decline in the population has reduced the numbers to less than 200 mature individuals. No recruitment has been recorded at any of the main sub-populations probably due to the impacts of grazing by goats and donkeys and the older plants are dying. The species is sought after by collectors and owing to past depredations was listed on CITES Appendix I. The species is the focus of a major new survey and possible reintroduction programme by members of the IUCN/SSC Southern African Plant Specialist Group.

Golden Pagoda (Mimetes chrysanthus) is a Vulnerable member of the Proteaceae family. This magnificent species was only discovered as recently as 1987. Since that time, a number of small sub-populations have been found along the mountain ranges bordering the Little Karoo, Western Cape, South Africa. The main sub-population is in a nature reserve; however, frequent wild fires and invasive alien species pose a constant threat to this species. Plants are now in cultivation and the species is rapidly becoming popular in the horticultural trade. Careful management of the wild population is required through removal of alien invasive species and the prevention of frequent wild fires.

Reptiles

Asian Three-striped Box Turtle (Cuora trifasciata) is one of the most Critically Endangered freshwater turtles in Asia. Known to be native to southern China and northern Viet Nam, and almost certainly in Lao PDR and perhaps Myanmar, it is also arguably one of the most beautiful. The population has declined drastically because C. trifasciata is believed to have cancer-curing properties in traditional Chinese Medicine. In addition, it is a rare species that is highly sought by the pet trade. While the harvesting of many Asian turtle species for the food trade may slow once each species reaches a commercial extinction threshold, individual C. trifasciata will continue to be hunted even as individuals become harder to find because of the high perceived value of each turtle. The establishment of secure insurance colonies or heritage collections will probably be the only solution to prevent complete loss of C. trifasciata in the short-term.

 

Mammals

 

Red-shanked Douc Langur (Pygathrix nemaeus) is a handsome, yet Endangered Asian colobine monkey found in south central Viet Nam and parts of neighbouring Laos and Cambodia. It is threatened throughout its limited range by habitat destruction and hunting, the latter both for food and for body parts, which are used to prepare traditional medicines. While a number of Douc Langur populations can still be found in parks and nature reserves, wildlife laws established to protect this and other threatened species are too often poorly enforced in the face of lucrative and illegal wildlife trade.

Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis), listed as Endangered, is confined to the highlands of Ethiopia in northeast Africa. It is estimated that there are 360–440 adults surviving, with less than 250 mature individuals (see IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria for the definition of 'mature individual'). The species is less common and has a more reduced range now than in the past mostly because of habitat destruction through expanding agricultural activities. Human persecution triggered by political instability in the past is currently less severe and is associated to conflicts over livestock losses. Rabies is a potential threat to all populations. An Action Plan has been published which provides a detailed strategy for the conservation and management of the remaining populations. A number of important conservation measures have already been taken to protect this species, including vaccination of wolves affected by rabies, community education programmes, strengthening national park capacitiy within the species. range, and ongoing wolf population surveys and monitoring.

South American Marsh Deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) is the largest of the Neotropical deer and occurs in seasonally wet marshes and inundated grasslands and forests of south central South America. The total population of Marsh Deer is currently unknown. However, ongoing decline is apparent in all areas as a result of poaching, cattle diseases, and habitat loss due to agricultural activities and dam constructions. In Uruguay the species is thought to be extinct: the last record from this country was in 1958.

World Nearing 3% of Ocean Protection

Marseille, France, 24 October 2013 – Marine protected areas now cover 2.8% of the global ocean – an area larger than Europe – according to the official map released today based on data provided by the World Database on Protected Areas, run by IUCN and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The map shows an increase of 0.6% in the ocean area protected since 2012. In 2010, most of the world governments agreed to protect at least 10% of the world’s marine and coastal zones by 2020.

It’s encouraging to see the progress we’ve made so far, says Carl Gustaf Lundin, Director of IUCN’s Global Marine and Polar Programme. “Protecting less than 3% of the ocean is still not enough to ensure its sustainable conservation. However, if we continue to increase this area by one percent each year, we should be able to reach the agreed 10% by 2020. We’re hoping that this map will make this process much more efficient.”

The map makes global marine protected areas easily accessible to marine specialists and the public for the first time. It offers the possibility to track progress towards protecting the ocean and identify those protected areas that have not yet been included in the map.

The map clearly shows how progress in the last few years has been boosted by the addition of large offshore marine protected areas, complementing the many smaller sites that exist in inshore waters of many countries. Such developments are visible around the national waters of Australia, France and West Africa.

Countries that are doing well should help others that are having difficulties in protecting their marine heritage due to overpopulation or lack of capacity and resources, says Dan Laffoley, Principal Advisor on Marine Science and Conservation of the IUCN Global Marine and Polar Programme. This map should make it easier for countries to collaborate with others. It provides a new level of transparency drawing from the official statistics to track progress against the 10% target.

The oceans cover more than 70% of the earth’s surface. More than 3.5 billion people depend on them for food, energy and income. By protecting the ocean’s natural and cultural resources, marine protected areas play a central role in addressing some of the global development challenges of today, such as food and energy security, poverty and climate change.

The map was released at the 3rd International Marine Protected Areas currently taking place in Marseille, France. Co-organized by IUCN and the French Marine Protected Areas Agency, IMPAC3 gathers over 1,200 of marine specialists and ministers from around the world with the aim to evaluate the progress made so far and propose new solutions for the conservation and sustainable development of the ocean.

The map and statistics on marine protected area coverage will be updated regularly as marine protection actions scale up across the globe, says Brian MacSharry from the Protected Area Programme of the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.