Let's keep the wild alive
Stopping extinction is a marathon starting with a sprint.
Countless species are on the brink of extinction. Their genomes have survived millions of years of evolution. We must not lose them forever.
Biodiversity is our lifeline
We are currently losing biodiversity at three levels: gene pools lose gene variants, populations lose variability, and ecosystems lose species. This impoverishment leads to a cumulative loss of ecosystem function and services.
Over millions of years, life on Earth built a dense fabric of life forms interconnected in interacting ecosystems. The variability at three levels (genes, populations and ecosystems) forms biodiversity. Although we are far from fully understanding its complexity, one thing is clear: Reducing biodiversity at the genetic, population or ecosystem level leads to a cumulative loss of function and finally the break-down of affected ecosystems. For example, in just 25 years, hunting reduced the number of black rhinoceros by around 96% (from 70,000 in 1970 to just 2,410 in 1995). Such a crash greatly reduces genetic variability and the variability across different populations of this species. Moreover, the near-total loss of its ecological function alters and degrades the previously existing ecosystem to which this species – and species interacting with it – had adapted over many millennia. This degradation process, if left unchecked or driven too far (i.e. if it affects a large number of species), is suicidal. For we heavily rely on ecosystem services provided by or dependent on living organisms. These include regulating services such as the purification of water and air, carbon sequestration and climate regulation, waste decomposition and detoxification, control of species by predators, pollination, and flood protection. Ecosystem services also include provisioning services such as food, crops, organic raw materials (lumber, fuelwood, fodder, fertilizer), genetic resources, medicinal resources, and energy (hydropower, biofuels).
Not only the cute!
The need for species protection and conservation is immense.
But are the usual targets the right ones?
"Flagship species" help raise funds for protecting key habitats. They enable us to connect emotionally. So how do you advocate protecting pivotal beings that don't look sweet, such as many plants and arthropods? At 1wild, we believe that conservation priorities should take into account both evolutionary distinctiveness and the level of global endangerment. Also, ecologically critical (keystone) species and particularly biodiverse ecosystems should have conservation priority. These principles guide us in choosing projects to support. We can't let ourselves be charmed by the cute and pretty only. So expect some unlikely flagship species. They, too, are priceless.
Cub of Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). Endangered.
Caribbean coral reef staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis). Critically endangered.
Siamese rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis). SE Asia. Critically endangered.
Cub of Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). Endangered.
Only a tiny fraction of the species on earth are ones that humans can easily empathize with - mammals, birds and possibly some other vertebrates. 95% of species don't seem cute to us in any way. But they are crucial to the functioning of the biosphere.
Species conservation is complex
Effective protection of endangered species within their habitats requires a catalogue of situational conservation measures for the respective areas. They have to involve the local population, too.
Our goal is to preserve endangered species in their respective habitats. That's more complex than it may sound. It requires not only the protection of the remaining populations of endangered animal, plant and fungal species and their habitats. It also often requires the support of such species through suitable measures, such as the renaturing of impoverished habitats, the connection of residual habitats through wildlife corridors, the provision of nesting sites and the protection of offspring from predators. This requires situationally adapted protected area management. The respective actions generally involve the local population, take their needs into account in an appropriate manner and endeavour to resolve conflicting objectives. For example, villagers whose crops are raided by elephants were taught to refrain from retaliatory killings, but to surround their crops with beehives instead. These protect smallholder fields against elephants mor effectively, with the honey generating additional income. The IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas can serve as a guideline and instrument for the design of such measures.
