How strong is an animal or plant species threatened in their existence? On this issue, the world conservation Union (IUCN), which has its headquarters in Gland on lake Geneva in Switzerland watches for decades and this so-called Red lists. Experts determine that the probability of extinction of the species. The species are classified in categories from "not endangered" to "extinct".
The lists are updated on a regular basis, so, too, this Wednesday. Currently, about 26,500 plant and animal species are considered threatened. That's 10,000 more than a decade ago - and 27 percent of all the species studied. Difficult is that in many species, not enough data is available to be able to their risk status at all to assess.
In the current Version of the list, there are also some positive messages: for example, the stocks of the mountain gorillas, and the whales have recovered, thanks to the comprehensive and long-term protection measures. The number of fin whales have doubled since the seventies to around 100,000 copies, approximately, shared with the IUCN.
success through the prohibition of commercial whaling
The fin whales are no longer considered as an "endangered" but are now listed as "endangered". The Situation of gray whales, previously considered to be "threatened with extinction", have improved. "The stocks of these whales are recovering, thanks to the prohibition of commercial whaling, international agreements and other security measures," said IUCN staff Randall Reeves. However, holes that allow countries such as Japan, whaling still exist slip, supposedly for scientific reasons. Norway and Iceland, also to the whaling ban and allow their fishermen to hunt animals.
there was Good news on the Situation of the mountain gorillas. Not least due to measures to be taken against poachers in their habitat has increased her inventory significantly the last. According to the IUCN, the number of animals has risen in the past ten years, from about 680 to more than 1000. The mountain gorillas live in protected areas in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. You Casinomaxi will now be at risk as "strong" and not more than "in danger of extinction".
photoWith a view to the new classification made by the IUCN, but in spite of the successes it clear that the protection measures should be further continued. Among other things, the number of tourists had reduced and there is a close contact of humans to the Gorillas can be avoided.
there are problems in many other areas. So the experts warned of problems caused by Overfishing. 13 percent of the grouper species worldwide and 9 percent of the approximately 450 fish species in the East African lake Malawi are threatened with extinction. "The decline of Species affects the price of fish worldwide, significantly reduces the food security for millions of people," said the IUCN expert Yvonne Sadovy.
Allegedly, sustainable fish picture alliance / dpa MSC-in-chief Interview with Mr. Howes, can you really eat fish?in An alarming development, the IUCN experts also see some of the types of wood. The increased demand in China for construction and furniture wood lead to depletion in Africa. Meanwhile, all kinds of eagle-wood tree standing on the Red list. Parts of the tree would be in the perfume and fragrance industry needed, what makes the wood one of the most expensive in the world.
More strongly on the extinction of species such as the Amazon river Dolphin and several bird species in Southeast Asia are threatened. "Individual successes in species protection must not obscure the fact that we are in a permanent, ecological state of emergency. Global biodiversity is through the people in a constant crisis mode, caught," said Christoph Heinrich, CEO nature conservation at WWF Germany on the occasion of the presentation of the new Red list. The positive examples also showed, however, that conservation can be successful, if determined action will be taken.
chs/dpa
Date Of Update: 14 November 2018, 20:01
