Life on the EDGE: putting forgotten species on the map

Transcription

1 Life on the EDGE: putting forgotten species on the map Dr#Heather#Koldewey# Carly#Waterman,#Catherine#Head,#Cath#Lawson,# David#Curnick,#Matthew#Gollock# Zoological#Society#of#London# ZSL / author

2 We

3 are

4 losing the battle

5 Current status of our ocean Review across marine science disciplines The world s ocean is at high risk of entering a phase of extinction of marine species unprecedented in human history Rogers and Laffoley, 2011

6 The agony of choice

7 Slide 7

8 Conservation bias Threatened Flagship Umbrella Landscape Keystone Cultural value

9 Subjective rather than scientific prioritisation? Slide 9

10 EDGE of Existence Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered

11 Evolutionarily Distinct B C A time

12 Evolutionarily Distinct B C A time

13 Evolutionarily Distinct B C A time

14 What is EDGE? Evolutionary Distinctiveness - Phylogeny Global Endangerment - measures urgency of action ZSL / author

15 EDGE = ln(1+ed)+ge*ln(2)

16 EDGE Species 528 EDGE mammals / 5259 species assessed 799 EDGE amphibians / 4339 species assessed

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18 EDGE Coral Reefs The most biodiverse marine ecosystem ZSL / author

19 10 Focal EDGE Coral Species Order: Scleractinia Anomastraea irregularis Dendrogyra cylindrus Heliofungia actiniformis Horastrea indica Parasimplastrea sheppardi Catalaphyllia jardinei Dichocoenia stokesii Physogyra lichensteini Ctenella chagius Acropora palmata ZSL / author

20 ZSL / author

21 Conservation attention 30% 28% 42% 41% 15% 44% 20% 80% None Limited 70% receiving little or no conservation attention None Active Limited 85% receiving little or no conservation attention Slide 21 80% receiving little or no conservation attention

22 Future EDGE lists Birds Sharks Gymnosperms Cyprinodontiformes

23 EDGE Sharks Phylogeny/EDGE Scores in progress ZSL IUCN Shark Specialist Group Florida State University University of Puerto Rico Aim to launch in 2013

24 The EDGE of Existence programme aims to complement other conservation priority-setting schemes to ensure that forgotten EDGE species are no longer overlooked. Slide 24

25 Three Objectives! 1. Building conservation capacity in regions in which priority EDGE species occur 2. Supporting targeted on-the-ground action for priority EDGE species 3. Encouraging others to support and engage in EDGE species conservation!zsl!/!author!!

26 EDGE Programme Aims 1. Building conservation capacity in regions in which priority EDGE species occur

27 EDGE Fellowships Early career conservationists from countries in which priority EDGE species occur Applied conservation research or targeted conservation action on EDGE species

28 EDGE Fellowships Funding over 2 years 4-week Conservation Tools training course Distance learning programme 2-week Conservation Leadership course at ZSL At least one project visit from ZSL Conservation Biologist Ongoing technical advice/ mentoring Slide 28

29 EDGE Corals training course ZSL / author

30 EDGE Fellows training course

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32 EDGE Programme Aims 2. Supporting targeted on-the-ground action for priority EDGE species

33 Current EDGE Fellows Ditto de la Rosa Grace Quiton

34 New EDGE Fellows Fellow: Radonirina Botosoamananto Country: Madagascar Project: Preliminary assessment of Horastrea indica in southwest Madagascar Fellow: Sylvanna Antat Country: Seychelles Project: Distribution patterns and symbionts associations of EDGE corals species Fellow: Nikita Shiel-Rolle Country: Bahamas Project: Compile baseline information on Dendrogyra cylindrus David Obura

35 EDGE Programme Aims 3. Encouraging others to support and engage in EDGE species conservation

36 Local NGOs Slide 36

37 International NGOs Slide 37

38 Incorporating into global priority setting Slide 38

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42 Photo of someone fundraising

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44 Slide 44

45 Relevance to zoos and aquariums?

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49 Engaging our visitors in novel ways

50 EDGE Corals in the aquarium trade Heliofungia actiniformis (Mushroom coral) Catalaphyllia jardinei (Elegance coral) Physogyra lichtensteini (Pearl bubble coral) All popular in the aquarium trade and all hard to keep ZSL / author

51 Sponsor a Fellow US$40,000 per Fellow (2 years) Discrete project Addressing gap in conservation efforts Blogs, images, reports Potential for visits Acknowledged as funder

52 Thanks to our funders to date Slide 52

53 EDGE Never Fellows doubt training that course a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

54 Thank you for listening! ZSL / author

55 Priceless or Worthless? You decide..