Sunday, September 9, 2007

One in four mammals under threat

Guardian (UK): Thousands of species in danger of extinction in the wild may survive only in captivity. The annual 'Red List' of extinct and endangered species to be published on Wednesday by the World Conservation Union is expected to show another increase in the numbers under threat of being wiped out by habitat loss, hunting, alien predators and climate change.

Last year the union warned that the world faced 'the sixth great extinction of life on earth' as mammals, amphibians, birds, insects, fish and plants were being lost at 'unprecedented rates'. One in four mammals and one in eight bird species have been labelled 'threatened'.

News that the list will show another deterioration will prompt fresh warnings about the danger of ecosystems collapsing, leading to problems with food supply and other 'biological services' such as the provision of clean water. Although some species are expected to be put into 'safer' categories after successful projects to protect them, more are believed to face a vulnerable future.

…The growing threats to species across the world should be a warning for humans, said Wright: 'These habitats provide us with food, water and so on: that's why we should be concerned.'

…Another fear is that when species die there is no incentive to protect their habitat; and in the case of 'flagship' species protected areas can lose their special status, leaving remaining ecosystems at the mercy of human damage, said Raul Matamoros, campaigns officer for the International Fund for Animal Welfare….

No comments: