The International Union of Nature has published a new updating of its red list of endangered species.
by clementine thiberge
Coraux, marine mammals, shells … Each year, the list of animal and plant species disappearing is lightened a little more. Friday, December 9, as part of the 15 e World Conference on Biodiversity (COP15) in Montreal, the International Nature Conservation Union (IUCN) has released a new updating of its list red. True barometer of the state of the lifetime on the planet, this list identifies the endangered species of extinction on a regional or global scale in order to be able to take appropriate conservation measures.
This year, 2,028 endangered species are added to the last 2021 assessment, bringing to 42,08 the total number of species in danger on the planet, or 28 % of the 150,388 species evaluated. The new estimate highlights the threats to the marine environment. The populations of Dugongs – large herbivorous marine mammals living off East Africa and New Caledonia – are now risking extinction. Less than 250 mature individuals are now counted in East Africa and less than 900 in New Caledonia.
The candle coral passes in critical danger of extinction after having seen its population decrease by more than 80 % since 1990. Overwhelming around coral reefs has reduced the number of fish, allowing algae to dominate and exerting additional pressure On corals.
No legal declination of the Red List
Another disturbing situation: 44 % of the species of Eastern shellfish enter the Red List of the IUCN, appearing to be “threatened”: “The Ormaux reflect the disastrous action of humanity on our oceans: overfishing, Pollution, diseases, loss of housing, proliferation of algae, warming and acidification, to name a few threats, “explains Howard Peters, member of the group of UICN mollusc specialists. According to the scientist, the sensitivity of these animals makes it an early indicator of the threats to the oceans. The increasingly frequent and serious marine heat waves have, for example, caused the disappearance of 99 % of these molluscs in the northern part of Australia in 2011.
“The appalling status of these species should shock us and encourage us to an urgent action. It is essential that we are correctly picking up fishing, limits climate change and inversions the degradation of housing”, underlines Amanda Vincent, president of the UICN Marine Conservation Committee.
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