ENV200H1S Challenges & Opportunities
Challenges & Opportunities
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ENV200H1S
Tutorial # 3 – Preserving Biodiversity – Challenges & Opportunities
(last updated Feb 25, 2023)
Introduction
Currently it is estimated that 25% of all species are threatened with extinction globally, almost
1,000,000 species of plants and animals (IPBES, 2019). This is on top of the many species that
have already gone extinct, including the dodo, the thylacine, and the passenger pigeon. However,
the number of species that have gone extinct in the lifetime of Homo sapiens is most likely
higher, as currently only 1.2 million species out of over 8 million have been described by
science. Extinction is a natural process, with 1 species going extinct every 100 years (on
average), however this rate of extinction is thought to be currently 100-1000 times higher, and it
is thought by many that planet Earth is currently experiencing a 6th mass extinction event, with
the last being over 66 million years ago where the dinosaurs became extinct. In response to the
alarming number of species threatened with extinction, with some taxa, such as the Lemurs of
Madagascar, having nearly 100% of species threatened with extinction (IUCN, 2022), global
conservation action is required.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation action on a global scale is not easy, it requires communication and coordination on
both an international, national and community level. Organisations such as the IUCN
(International Union for the Conservation of Nature) aim to bring together these different levels,
to better coordinate conservation action and responses globally. Sectors of the IUCN such as the
IUCN Red List for Threatened Species aim to increase globally understand of the threatened
status of all species, assess the threats they face, as well as the actions/responses needed to
conserve them. Currently (as of Sept 2022) the Red List has assessed 147,517 species across all
species groups (IUCN, 2022), highlight conservation priorities and giving detailed action plans
for these priority species.
Challenge
A challenge with preserving biodiversity is that though it is relatively easy to generate interest
and funds for flagship charismatic species such as pandas and polar bears, it is often more
difficult to generate interest in the less charismatic and forgotten species.
This is where science communication can be improved. The science and research
community has been long criticized for being a locked or gated community with only those
actively involved with research/science having access. However, for true global conservation
action to occur everyone needs to have a ‘seat at the table’ and have access to the same
information as those in the scientific community. Nevertheless, for many, the way in which
science is communicated within the research/science community, i.e through journal articles and
conferences etc, would not be appropriate and messages would be misunderstood or lost.
Opportunities
Therefore, effective, and appropriate methods of science communication that target
audiences correctly with the right level of information is needed. This includes the
communication of messages surrounding global biodiversity loss and conservation action for
both fauna and flora. It is also key that the new generation of environmental professionals have
the tools to effectively communicate their messages to a wide variety of audiences, including the
scientific community, children/young adults, and the public. It is thought by many that only then
will we be able to effectively achieve global conservation action and/or halt the mass extinction
of species globally.
Tutorial Objectives
o To recognize the scope of biodiversity loss, the challenges species face, and the
importance of biodiversity conservation globally.
o To learn about the IUCN red list of species and how it can be used in setting
conservation priorities, education, and science communication.
o To learn about current conservation efforts for endangered species across the globe.
o To understand the importance of science communication and correctly targeting
audiences.
Tutorial Assignment
The tutorial assignment consists of two parts.
Part 1: Create an interpretation board/infographic for display to the public on a ‘forgotten’
species that has been assigned to you. See the list of ‘forgotten’ species below. All the species
listed are listed as either Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List for
threatened species (https://www.iucnredlist.org). The aim of the infographic is to convince the
public that your species should be saved. Examples of such interpretation boards/infographics
can be found in the Tutorial 3 page on Quercus.
The interpretation board/infographic should include information on:
o The species ecology (e.g distribution, diet, etc)
o The threats it faces (e.g climate change, hunting, etc)
o Why your species should be saved (e.g. Its importance within the ecosystem, cultural
significant, etc)
o Images/figures (that are appropriate)
Your board is to be on display to the public in an exhibition on the importance of biodiversity
and species conservation efforts. Therefore, ensure all the information you include helps present
this message appropriately to the target audience (this could be adults and children of all ages).
You have been assigned a species based on the last digit of your student number (see below).
For example, if your student number is 1007851318, then your species is the Little brown bat
(EN).