Living Planet Report 2018: Aiming higher

Source: WWF

The Living Planet Report 2018 has been published this week, the twelfth edition of the report. Every two years, the WWF (one of the world’s largest independent conservation organizations with a global network active in 100 countries) publishes the report so as to give an indication of the current health and state of our planet (including biodiversity, ecosystems, and demand on natural resources and what it means for humans and wildlife), the trends in global biodiversity and wildlife abundance, and the impact of human activity. It is a science-based analysis, assisted by multiple indicators including the Living Planet Index (LPI), the Species Habitat Index (SHI), the IUCN Red List Index (RLI), the Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII), the Planetary Boundaries, and the Ecological Footprint. The report comprises of a variety of research in order to provide a comprehensive view of the health of the Earth. The state of global biodiversity is done by measuring the population abundance of thousands of vertebrate species around the world. The Living Planet Report tracked more than 16,704 populations of 4,005 vertebrate species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians. It uses the Ecological Footprint and additional complementary measures to explore the changing state of global biodiversity and human consumption.

Disturbing results and statistics

The results and the scientific evidence are shocking. Nature has continually warned us: unsustainable human activity is pushing the planet’s natural systems that support life on Earth to the edge. The report warns us seriously too: “Earth is losing biodiversity at a rate seen only during mass extinctions.” Over recent decades, human activity has also severely impacted the habitats and natural resources wildlife and humanity depend on, such as oceans, forests, coral reefs, wetlands, and mangroves.

According to WWF’s Living Planet Report 2018:

·         Human activities are primarily responsible for the main threats to species identified in the report, including habitat loss, degradation, and over-exploitation of wildlife, such as overfishing and overhunting.

·         On average, we’ve seen an astonishing 60% decline in the size of populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians in just over 40 years (between 1970 and 2014). Over-exploitation of ecological resources by humanity is thus worrisome.

Source: WWF

·         Current rates of species extinction are now up to 1,000 times higher than before human involvement in animal ecosystems became a factor.

·         Species population declines are especially pronounced in the tropics, with South and Central America suffering the most dramatic decline, an 89% loss compared to 1970.

·         Freshwater species numbers have also declined dramatically, with the Freshwater Index showing an 83% decline since 1970, due mainly as a result of overfishing, pollution, and climate change.

·         The Earth is estimated to have lost about 50% of its shallow water corals in the past 30 years.

·         90% of seabirds have plastics in their stomachs, compared with 5% in 1960.

·         A fifth (20%) of the Amazon has disappeared in just 50 years.

Source: Wikipedia

·         African elephants have declined in number in Tanzania by 60% in just five years between 2009 and 2014, primarily due to ivory poaching.

·         Deforestation in Borneo, designed to make way for timber and palm oil plantations, led to the loss of 100,000 orangutans between 1999 and 2015.

·         The number of polar bears is expected to decline by 30% by 2050 as global warming causes Arctic ice to melt, making their habitats increasingly dangerous.

Source: Science Daily

·         Only a quarter of the world's land is untouched by humans, who are increasing food production and use of natural resources.

·         America is among the countries using the most natural resources. North America and Canada consume more than seven global hectares per person.

·         The report also focuses on the value of nature to people's health and that of our societies and economies: Globally, nature provides services worth around $125 trillion a year, while also helping ensure the supply of fresh air, clean water, food, energy, medicines, and more.

Thus, from the abovementioned statistics, it is clear that the impact human activity (how we feed, fuel, and finance our lives) has on the world’s wildlife, forests, oceans, rivers, and climate is troublesome. It is taking an unprecedented toll on wildlife, wild places, and the natural resources we need to survive. According to Global Footprint Network, humanity is currently using the resources of 1.7 planets to provide the goods and services we demand when we only have one Earth.

Is it too late?

Current efforts to protect the natural world are not keeping up with the speed of this destruction. We’re facing a rapidly closing window for action and the urgent need for everyone to cooperatively rethink and redefine how we value, protect, and restore nature. This generation may be last to save nature, the report warns. But, we still have time to act; there is still hope. In order to ensure a sustainable future for all living things, we need to urgently curtail the loss of nature. In essence, the Living Planet Report 2018 highlights the opportunity the global community has to protect and restore nature leading up to 2020, an imperative year when leaders are expected to review the progress made on landmark multilateral pacts to solve global challenges including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Marco Lambertini, Director General WWF International, is of the belief that “the nature conservation agenda is not only about securing the future of tigers, pandas, whales and all the amazing diversity of life we love and cherish on Earth. It’s bigger than that. There cannot be a healthy, happy and prosperous future for people on a planet with a destabilized climate, depleted oceans and rivers, degraded land and empty forests, all stripped of biodiversity, the web of life that sustains us all. In the next years, we need to urgently transition to a net carbon-neutral society and halt and reverse nature loss – through green finance, clean energy and environmentally friendly food production. We must also preserve and restore enough land and ocean in a natural state. Few people have the chance to be a part of truly historic transformations. This is ours”.

You can read more about the report here: 
https://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/all_publications/living_planet_report_2018/

References

WWF. 2018. Living Planet Report - 2018: Aiming Higher. Grooten, M. and Almond, R.E.A.(Eds). WWF, Gland, Switzerland.

http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/lpr2018_technical_supplement_for_lpi.pdf

https://www.connect4climate.org/publication/living-planet-report-2018-aiming-higher-wwf

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/29/health/wwf-wildlife-population-report-intl/index.html

https://www.footprintnetwork.org/living-planet-report/

https://planeta.com/living-planet-2018/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/10/30/living-planet-report-60-percent-animal-populations-gone-wwf/1817210002/

https://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/all_publications/living_planet_report_2018/

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181031090914.htm

https://www.worldwildlife.org/publications/living-planet-report-2018

World Pangolin Day

The SIXTH annual World Pangolin Day is celebrated today, on the 18^th of February. The first World Pangolin Day was celebrated in February 2012. This day is dedicated to the armor-clad mammals, resembling giant pine cones. World Pangolin Day provides the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about these unique yet vulnerable mammals as well as put the spotlight on their plight. The aim of this particularly important day is to draw as much attention to pangolins as possible because they’re still fairly unknown outside of Asia and Africa. Unfortunately, Pangolins are one of the most heavily trafficked mammals in the illegal wildlife trade. Their numbers are quickly declining in both Asia and Africa due to poaching and illegal hunting. However, there is some good news! Fortunately, at the most recent Conference of the Parties to CITES, held in South Africa during September 2016, all eight pangolin species were upgraded from Appendix II to Appendix I. Consequently, all pangolin species will receive the strictest global protections from trade.

Source: Arkive

Source:What Species

Worldwide, there are eight species ranging from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered.

Four pangolin species occur in Asia:

Indian Pangolin (also called Thick-tailed Pangolin), Manis crassicaudata

Phillipine Pangolin, Manis culionensis

Sunda Pangolin (also called Malayan Pangolin), Manis javanica

Chinese Pangolin, Manis pentadactyla

Four pangolin species occur in Africa:

Three-Cusped Pangolin (also called African White-Bellied Pangolin and Tree Pangolin), Manis tricuspis

Giant Ground Pangolin, Manis gigantea

Cape Pangolin (also called Temminck’s Pangolin), Manis temminckii

Long-Tailed Pangolin (also called Black-Bellied Pangolin), Manis tetradactyla

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), almost no information is available on population levels of any species of pangolin. They are rarely observed as a result of their secretive, solitary, and nocturnal habits, and there has been little research on their population densities.

Here are powerfully interesting pangolin facts:

·         Their name, “pangolin”, is derived from the Malay word “pengguling”, which loosely translates to “something that rolls up”. Together, the eight species comprise their very own Order: Pholidota.

·         Otherwise known as scaly anteaters.

·         They’re unique creatures that are covered in hard, plate-like scales, comprised of keratin.

·         Their scales cover their whole body from head to tip of tail — except for their undersides (it’s covered with a few sparse hairs).

·         Pangolins are insectivorous (feeding on insects) and predate almost exclusively on ants and termites.

·         They voluntarily constrict their ears and nostrils to keep insects out while they’re feeding.

·         They are the only scaled mammal.

·         They are predominantly nocturnal and elusive, secretive mammals.

·         To protect themselves, they curl into balls like hedgehogs.

·         Due to variation in their size and the size of their scales, each species of pangolin has a different range in terms of the number of scales.

·         Giant ground pangolins are the largest of all eight species - one was found to weigh 33 kilograms (72.6 pounds).

·         Long-tailed pangolins are the smallest, weighing around 2-3 kg (about 4-6 pounds).

·         A pangolin’s tongue can be longer than its body when fully extended is can be 40 cm long!

·         They do not have teeth and are unable to chew. Instead, they have long sticky tongues that they use to catch the insects they feed on.

·         They have large, curved claws that they use for pulling bark off trees and logs to find their insect prey.

·         Their large and elongated claws enable them to burrow underground for shelter and to excavate ant and termite nests for food, mixing and aerating the soil, improving nutrient quality of the soil and aids the decomposition cycle, providing a healthy substrate for lush vegetation to grow from.

·         They reach sexual maturity after two years, and typically only give birth to a single young.

·         Their gestation period is thought to last between 69–150 days, varying by species.

·         When born, the babies weigh around 8-450 grams (about 3-16 ounces), depending on the species, and have soft scales that harden fairly rapidly.

·         Young are usually weaned at around three months of age.

·         Baby pangolins travel around with their mothers by riding on the base of her tail.

·         The scales of these critters comprise about 20% of their total body weight.

·         When pangolins feel threatened, they curl up into a tight, almost impenetrable ball to protect their tender undersides. If caught, they will thrash about using their tail muscles. Because their scales have very sharp edges, they can slice the skin of a human or predator when they do this.

·         Pangolins have poor vision and hearing, but their sense of smell is quite strong.

·         Some species find shelter in trees, while others live in underground burrows.

So show your support for these under-appreciated animals today!

References

http://www.pangolins.org/

https://wildfor.life/species/pangolin

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-pangolin-day/

https://news.mongabay.com/2017/02/world-pangolin-day-2017/

http://annamiticus.com/2017/02/14/sixth-annual-world-pangolin-day-18-february-2017/

CITES CoP 17

An Introduction to CITES

Since its inception in 1975, CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) has grown and evolved. In Washington D.C., on 3 March 1973, 80 countries agreed the text of the convention and on 1 July 1975 CITES was initiated. CITES is an international, voluntary agreement between governments. Their ultimate aim is to abundantly ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants doesn’t threaten their survival. They seek effective strategies to protect conservational species from overexploitation due to primarily trade. It is also the only international and legally-binding treaty to control the trade in endangered species.

CITES is one of the most effective multilateral environmental agreements in existence and is the most effective multilateral wildlife conservation regime (Downes 2016) (as cited in IFAW 2016). CITES comprises of 183 Parties (States that have agreed to be bound by the convention). They seek to accommodate the interests of these Parties with different degrees of institutional capacity and resources to implement the Convention. They have also grown in complexity due to the fact that there is an increasing number of species which require protection from over-exploitation. CITES has been among the conservation agreements with the largest membership. It remains one of the world's most authoritative and powerful tools for biodiversity conservation because they regulate trade in wild fauna and flora.

Over the last 40 years, CITES has regulated trade in more than 35,000 species and has helped save iconic species like elephants, tigers, rhinos, and many others from extinction (Downes 2016) (as cited in IFAW 2016). The CITES Appendices now include more than 35,000 species, including approximately 5,500 species of animals and 29,500 species of plants. It regulates international trades, including their products and derivatives, ensuring their survival in the wild with benefits for the livelihoods of local people and the global environment (CITES CoP 17).

Implementing CITES is challenging, even with abundant resources (IFAW 2016). International collaboration and cooperation is of utmost importance due to the fact that trade crosses national borders and to ensure that trade is controlled and takes sustainably place while simultaneously ensure that it doesn’t threaten or endanger wildlife.

CITES alone cannot change the conservation status of most species threatened with extinction and we must call on more appropriate international bodies and coordinated action by governments to address those broader threats, including the undeniable threat of climate change. However, CITES can give species the chance they deserve to recover their numbers, and in doing so, help Parties achieve their goals under other international agreements, including sustainable development regimes (Downes 2016) (as cited in IFAW 2016).

International wildlife trade is annually estimated to be worth billions of dollars including hundreds of millions of plant and animal specimens, making it one of the most lucrative transnational organised criminal activities.  Levels of exploitation of some animal and plant species are high and the trade in them, together with other factors, such as habitat loss, is capable of heavily depleting their populations and even bringing some species close to extinction. Many wildlife species in trade are not endangered, but the existence of an agreement to ensure the sustainability of the trade is important in order to safeguard these resources for the future (CITES CoP 17 JHB). It impacts the tourism industry and the livelihoods of local communities as well as hindering progress with regards to sustainable development and poverty alleviation.

Appendices

Species are listed on one of three appendices, according to the degree of protection they need and how threatened they are by international trade. Appendices I, II and III to the Convention are lists of species that include different levels or types of protection from over-exploitation. Since the Convention commenced, more than 30,000 species of animals and plants have been listed, from tigers and elephants to mahogany and orchids.

Appendix I

It includes 900 species that are presently threatened with extinction and are or may be affected by trade. They are the most endangered among CITES-listed animals and plants. Species cannot be traded internationally for commercial purposes. Article II(1) of the Convention states that “trade in specimens of these species must be subject to particularly strict regulation (IFAW 2016). Examples include: tiger, Himalayan brown bear, elephant, and Tibetan antelope.

Appendix II

It includes 34,000 species which may become threatened unless trade is strictly regulated to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. It is necessary to have two-thirds majority of Parties present and voting is required to include a species. These species aren’t necessarily threatened now with extinction but may become so unless their trade is strictly regulated. It also includes “look-alike” species (those species for which specimens in trade resemble those of other species included in Appendix I or II) (IFAW 2016). These species can be traded internationally for commercial purposes, but within strict regulations, requiring determinations of sustainability and legality. Examples include: Hippopotamus, bigleaf mahogany, and the grey wolf.

Appendix III

Species are included solely on the basis of a decision of a range State. Trade requires CITES documentation but no biological findings. It includes species unilaterally listed by individual Parties, but which will require issuance of CITES documents by all range States. These species are subject to domestic protections within their range. It specifically list species included at the request of a Party that already regulates trade in the species which requires the cooperation of other countries to prevent unsustainable or illegal exploitation. International trade in specimens of these species is only allowed on presentation of the appropriate permits or certificates.

Conference of the Parties (CoP)

The Conference of the Parties (CoP) is the decision-making body of the Convention. The CoP consists of all Parties to the Convention and a meeting between them to review the implementation of the Convention. The CoP, meeting in plenary, adopts species proposals, resolutions, and decisions of the Parties (IFAW 2016).

At meetings of the Conference of the Parties, which are held every two to three years, the Parties assess a species’ vulnerability and determine in which Appendix, if any, to place the species (IFAW 2016). Their main purposes are to: review progress in the conservation of species listed under CITES; consider, and where appropriate adopt, proposals to amend the lists of species under CITES; recommend measures to improve the effectiveness of the Convention; and make provisions necessary to allow the CITES Secretariat to function effectively.

CoP 17

The 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP17) will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa from 24 September to 5 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre. This meeting will be the fourth held on the African continent since CITES commenced in 1975. It will be the first one held on the continent since 2000. South Africa offered to host CoP17 at the 16th meeting of the CoP (Bangkok in 2013), which was approved by acclamation.

South Africa was amongst the first States to join CITES – only a few months after it was initiated. The country has actively participated in the work of the Convention since then. South Africa was specifically chosen because it’s a decidedly suitable location for the 17th CoP as they are facing numerous wildlife challenges and opportunities. These are currently being tackled. Africa is home to an immense array of CITES-listed species and South Africa is globally recognised for 'the Big Five' (namely Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Lion, and Leopoard).

Rhino poaching will feature on the agenda of CoP17, tying in with the logo of the conference, an iconic image of the African white rhinoceros. The rhino's body comprises the outlines of a number of species of endangered plants and animals from the African continent, such as the pangolin, cycad, African aloe and African lion. The rhino was chosen given South Africa's status as home to the largest rhino populations in the world and to draw attention to the challenges of poaching (CITES CoP 17 JHB).

In particular, CITES CoP17 assists in communicating and raising vital awareness about the importance of species and wildlife conservation as well as the urgent need to address the illegal trade in species, while simultaneously supporting legal trade supported by sound sustainable utilisation principles. Their aim is to prevent endangered species from being hunted and traded into extinction.

What will happen at CoP 17?

This meeting will bring the global community together to tackle challenges and opportunities of the world's biggest wildlife.

All of the Parties will make critical decisions with regards to wildlife trade policy and the scope of regulatory control over international trade in specific species. They will also evaluate the progress that has been made since 2013, as well as take the necessary decisions on what additional measures are needed to end illicit wildlife trafficking. It is also about coming up with resolutions that take forward the work already done around the trade in flora and fauna. Issues that will be discussed include captive lion breeding, and rhino and elephant poaching (having reached an all-time high) and synergies with the impending IUCN World Conservation Congress that will be held in Hawaii in September.

It will consider the recommendations from the 66th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee held in Geneva earlier this year (CITES CoP 17 JHB). There will daily be informative and refreshing workshops. And delegates will get an opportunity to experience South Africa’s beautiful biodiversity.

Here’s a link to the Provisional agenda and working documents:

https://cites.org/eng/cop/17/doc/index.php

Learn more about CITES: www.cites.org

References

International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). 2016. Resource: CITES Pocket Guide: CoP17. Accessed on 09/09/2016. Available at: http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/resource-centre/cites-pocket-guide-cop17

https://cites.org/cop17

http://www.citescop17jhb.co.za/

http://www.citescop17jhb.co.za/cop17/about

http://www.citescop17jhb.co.za/cop17/whats-new-in-2016

http://www.citescop17jhb.co.za/cop17/why-attend

https://cites.org/eng/app/index.php

https://cites.org/eng/disc/what.php

https://cites.org/eng/news/pr/cites_cop17_venue_dates_south_africa_2016

https://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/wildlife-trade/cites/cop17

http://newsahead.com/cites-cop17-on-african-soil-turns-spotlight-on-continents-big-five-animals/

http://www.wiseoceans.com/faq-cites-cop17-johannesburg-south-africa/

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_work/policy/conventions/cites/cites_cops/

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_work/policy/conventions/cites/