1. Catalyzing Red List Assessments of Underrepresented Taxa through Partner Networks and Student Engagement
- Author
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Monika Böhm, David L. Waldien, Gregory P. Setliff, Kristine O. Abenis, Luis F. Aguirre, Perpetra Akite, Marnelli S. Alviola, Phillip A. Alviola, José Luis Aramayo Bejarano, Jade Aster T. Badon, Aimee Lynn A. Barrion-Dupo, Gilianne Brodie, Analyn Cabras, Cátia Canteiro, James A. Danoff-Burg, Emmanuel Ryan C. De Chavez, Mariano Roy M. Duya, Orlando L. Eusebio, Norashikin Fauzi, Zachary J. Glass, Noelle E. Grabowski, Juán Fernando Guerra Serrudo, Sérgio S. Henriques, Brent M. Horton, Vijaya Kumaran Jayaraj, Beth A. Kaplin, Shannon M. Keller, Maria Julieta Ledezma Arias, Ireneo L. Lit, Jr., Cristian C. Lucañas, Milton Norman D. Medina, Michael D. Meyer, Jenna Miladin, Ahmim Mourad, Gregory M. Mueller, Shiloh S. Narayan, Jeremy C. B. Naredo, Tamara Osborne-Naikatini, Joseph B. Rasalan, Bindiya Rashni, Simon Musila, Appalasamy Suganthi, Nunia Thomas-Moko, Chrestine B. Torrejos, John R. Wallace, Hilda Waqa-Sakiti, and Sheryl Yap
- Subjects
IUCN Red List ,extinction risk ,Species Survival Commission ,capacity building ,mentoring ,academic learning ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
Global biodiversity decline is continuing largely unabated. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species (hereafter, Red List) provides us with the gold standard for assessments, but taxonomic coverage, especially for invertebrates and fungi, remains very low. Many players contribute to the Red List knowledge base, especially IUCN Red List partners, IUCN-led assessment projects, and the Specialist Groups and Red List Authorities (RLA) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. However, it is vital that we develop the next generation of contributors and bring in new, diverse voices to build capacity and to sustain the huge assessment effort required to fill data gaps. Here, we discuss a recently established partner network to build additional capacity for species assessments, by linking academia directly into the assessment processes run by Specialist Groups and RLAs. We aim to increase Red List “literacy” amongst potential future conservationists and help students to increase publication output, form professional networks, and develop writing and research skills. Professors can build Red List learning into their teaching and offer Red Listing opportunities to students as assignments or research projects that directly contribute to the Red List. We discuss the opportunities presented by the approach, especially for underrepresented species groups, and the challenges that remain.
- Published
- 2022
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