UN Millennium Development Goals Expand to Include Biodiversity
NEW YORK, New York, September 29, 2008 (ENS) – For the first time, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals is monitoring the world’s plants and animals using the Red List Index developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, IUCN. Based on the comprehensive IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the index shows trends in the overall extinction risk for sets of species at global, regional and national levels.
Until now, the seventh Millennium Development Goal, to ensure environmental sustainability, has not included any mention of biodiversity or the need to save species as a critical contribution to human development.
But with the launch of the latest Annual Report on progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, in advance of the High-level Event on the Millennium Development Goals at UN Headquarters in New York on September 25, the goal now includes the aim to “significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010″ as one of its targets.
The Sumatran orangutan, Pongo abelii, is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List after declines of 80% due to logging and conversion of forest to agriculture and oil palms. (Photo by Anup Shah courtesy ARKive)
The index will be used to monitor progress and highlight areas where conservation efforts are needed.
“The IUCN Red List is the world’s most authoritative and reliable system for assessing the risk of species extinction,” says Jane Smart, who heads IUCN’s Species Programme. “Species are the best known component of biodiversity and therefore it’s vitally important to expand our work to establish a reliable trend in the rate of species loss.”
“We’re delighted to have our Red List information used as a primary tool by the United Nations to monitor the status of the animals and plants we depend upon,” she said.
The eight Millennium Development Goals, agreed by the world’s governments and development institutions, range from reducing extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS. They provide measurable targets which can be achieved by the year 2015.
Progress towards achievement of the biodiversity component will be monitored by measuring the proportion of species threatened with extinction – calculated by the IUCN Red List Index.
“This new target puts the importance of species at the top of the world’s agenda,” says Holly Dublin, who chairs the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission. “The links between biodiversity and development are strong, which is why it’s important that the Millennium Development Goals prioritize the need to conserve species across the world,” said Dublin.
“Species are harvested for food, medicines and fibers.They’re domesticated for agriculture and play an essential role in regulating local and global environments,” she said. “It is great to see that nature is recognized as an essential contributor to human wellbeing.”
IUCN has partnered with BirdLife International, Conservation International, NatureServe and the Zoological Society of London to strengthen the standards of the IUCN Red List and to develop the Red List Index.
Birds have the longest history of comprehensive assessment of any class of organisms. As a result, BirdLife International has developed the first IUCN Red List Index for birds, which now has 20 years of trends.
NEW YORK, New York, September 29, 2008 (ENS) – For the first time, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals is monitoring the world’s plants and animals using the Red List Index developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, IUCN. Based on the comprehensive IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the index shows trends in the overall extinction risk for sets of species at global, regional and national levels.
Until now, the seventh Millennium Development Goal, to ensure environmental sustainability, has not included any mention of biodiversity or the need to save species as a critical contribution to human development.
But with the launch of the latest Annual Report on progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, in advance of the High-level Event on the Millennium Development Goals at UN Headquarters in New York on September 25, the goal now includes the aim to “significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010″ as one of its targets.
The Sumatran orangutan, Pongo abelii, is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List after declines of 80% due to logging and conversion of forest to agriculture and oil palms. (Photo by Anup Shah courtesy ARKive)
The index will be used to monitor progress and highlight areas where conservation efforts are needed.
“The IUCN Red List is the world’s most authoritative and reliable system for assessing the risk of species extinction,” says Jane Smart, who heads IUCN’s Species Programme. “Species are the best known component of biodiversity and therefore it’s vitally important to expand our work to establish a reliable trend in the rate of species loss.”
“We’re delighted to have our Red List information used as a primary tool by the United Nations to monitor the status of the animals and plants we depend upon,” she said.
The eight Millennium Development Goals, agreed by the world’s governments and development institutions, range from reducing extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS. They provide measurable targets which can be achieved by the year 2015.
Progress towards achievement of the biodiversity component will be monitored by measuring the proportion of species threatened with extinction – calculated by the IUCN Red List Index.
“This new target puts the importance of species at the top of the world’s agenda,” says Holly Dublin, who chairs the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission. “The links between biodiversity and development are strong, which is why it’s important that the Millennium Development Goals prioritize the need to conserve species across the world,” said Dublin.
“Species are harvested for food, medicines and fibers.They’re domesticated for agriculture and play an essential role in regulating local and global environments,” she said. “It is great to see that nature is recognized as an essential contributor to human wellbeing.”
IUCN has partnered with BirdLife International, Conservation International, NatureServe and the Zoological Society of London to strengthen the standards of the IUCN Red List and to develop the Red List Index.
Birds have the longest history of comprehensive assessment of any class of organisms. As a result, BirdLife International has developed the first IUCN Red List Index for birds, which now has 20 years of trends.
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