The threat to plant species of the world, istockphoto, used with permission
This article was originally written and posted elsewhere; although some of the information might be somewhat out-of-date the real threat to the extinction of plants is not, so I thought it was relevant to re-post it here on Girly Chat in Social Issues.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was initially set up to assess the conservation status of plant and animal species in the world, highlight those species that are threatened with extinction, and promote the cause for their conservation. The declining population of many of the world’s plant and animal species is alarming; unless action is taken, many species will become extinct. Governments recently met at the 10th Conference of the Parties to Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to discuss a plan to highlight the importance of biodiversity and to take steps to prevent further decline.
About the International Union for Conservation of Nature
IUCN was established in October 1948 as the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN); in 1956, the organization changed its name to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). IUCN was the world’s first global environmental organization and today is the largest professional global conservation network. The primary mission of the IUCN is to encourage and to help the world’s societies to conserve nature and the wide range of both animal and plant species. It also makes sure that natural resources are ecologically sustainable.
The IUCN Red List
The IUCN is responsible for the production of the Red List of Threatened Species, “the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plants, animals and fungi and the most authoritative guide to the status of biological diversity” (source: IUCN).
There are nine categories in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species; these are extinct, extinct in the wild, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened, least concern, data deficient and not evaluated. Species are categorized according to an assessment by scientists, based on factors such as rate of decline, size of population and area of distribution.
The Real Threat of Extinction to the World’s Plants
According to a SRLI Plants news release on 29 September 2010, New Study Shows Over One Fifth of the World’s Plants are Under Threat of Extinction, a recent study on the global analysis of the extinction risk for the world’s plants was carried out by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew (London, UK), the Natural History Museum in London and the IUCN. The result of the study was alarming; one in five of the world’s plant species is threatened with extinction.
Royal Botanic Garden, Kew’s Director, Professor Stephen Hopper reported:
“For the first time we have a clear global picture of the extinction risk to the world’s known plants. This report shows the most urgent threats and the most threatened areas.”
He added:
“We cannot sit back and watch plant species disappear – plants are the basis of all life on earth, providing clean air, water, food and fuel. All animal and bird life depends on them and so do we.”
Recent Developments in the Protection of Threatened Species
Following on from this report, the world’s governments met at the 10th Conference of the Parties to Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Nagoya, Japan in October, 2010 to try to establish a “plan of action” to reduce the threat of extinction for both animal and plant species. A strategic ten year plan was approved, consisting of 20 targets.
According to a COP10 news release on 29 October 2010, Deadline Life – Nagoya Defines Future for Life on Earth, IUCN Director General, Julia Marton-Lefreve said:
“Here in Japan the international community have moved closer to the realization that it’s time we stopped considering nature as expendable and any related expenditure a write-off – it’s time we valued and conserved nature.”
Director of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conservation Group, Jane Smart, said:
“What we’ve decided at this meeting will change the future of life on Earth – and many solutions are available to us.”
The Future for Threatened Plant Species
Once a year, the importance of biodiversity and the destructive effects that humans are inflicting on plant Earth are focused upon on Earth Day. However, it is apparent that much more needs to be done to try to reduce, and if possible reverse, some of the destruction. Without plants, there would be no life on earth, as we know it. By 2020, it will become known if the 10th Conference of the Parties to Convention on Biological Diversity, and the plan of action agreed upon, will have been effective in reducing the extinction of the world’s plant species.
References:
The International Union for Conservation of Nature web site, accessed 1 November, 2010
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species web site, accessed 1 November, 2010
SRLI Plants news release, New Study Shows Over One Fifth of the World’s Plants are Under Threat of Extinction, 29 September, 2010
COP10 news release, Deadline Life – Nagoya Defines Future for Life on Earth, 29 October, 2010
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