804 Briefly INTERNATIONAL


Climate change: vulnerable nations call for emergency pact The countries most vulnerable to climate change are calling for an emergency pact. The group wants all countries to agree rad- ical steps to avoid climate catastrophe at the UNClimateChangeConference inNovember in Glasgow, UK. Representing c. 1.2 billion people, the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) comprises countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific. The group has been key in pushing the rest of the world to keeping the rise in global temperatures to under 1.5 °C this century. Ahead of the Glasgow meeting, the CVF has issued a manifesto for what the conference must deliver to keep the planet safe and protect the most vulnerable. Disadvantaged nations say that richer countries must fulfil their obligations to de- liver USD 100 billion in climate finance per year during 2020–2024. The CVF nations want this money to be split equally between cutting carbon emissions and helping coun- tries adapt to the threats posed by rising temperatures. Source: BBC (2021) bbc.co.uk/news/science- environment-58477926


Climate change will impact Antarctic seal species differently An international study reveals how climate change may affect seals in one of the most remote ocean regions in the world, the Weddell Sea. The team engaged thousands of citizen scientists over a few years to search for Southern Ocean seals—crabeater and Weddell seals—using satellite images. They found that Weddell and crabeater seals breed close to where they can find food. The researchers also discovered that climate change will affect these breeding locations differently. As temperatures rise, crabeater seals will struggle to find places to rest and raise their young, in addition to having less food available to them. This is because they breed on the unstable and short-lived pack-ice that is drifting on the sea, and feed almost exclusively on Antarctic krill, and both pack-ice and krill are becoming less abundant. In contrast, Weddell seals are expected to be minimally affected in the near future. They breed on ice that is fastened to the Antarctic conti- nent and thusmore stable, and aremore flex- ible in their diet, eating fish, krill and squid. Sources: Global Change Biology (2021) doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15828 & Phys.org (2021) phys.org/news/2021-09-size-climate- impact-antarctic-species.html


Tuna bounce back after decade of conservation efforts Most species of tuna were deemed at risk of extinction in 2011. Now, after efforts from conservationists and industry, including strict fishing quotas and a crack-down on il- legal fishing, some populations appear to be recovering. This shows that despite increas- ing pressure on our oceans, species can re- cover if countries commit to sustainable practices. The latest update of the IUCN Red List, released at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in September 2021, revealed encouraging signs for four of sev- en tuna species: the Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus moved from Endangered to Least Concern, the southern bluefin tuna Thunnus maccoyii from Critically En- dangered to Endangered, and the albacore Thunnus alalunga and yellowfin tunas Thunnus albacares from Near Threatened to LeastConcern.However, tuna stocks in some areas remain of concern, such as the bluefin tuna in western parts of the Atlantic and yellowfin in the IndianOcean. Source: BBC (2021) bbc.co.uk/news/science- environment-58441142


Indigenous and local communities key to successful nature conservation Indigenous peoples and local communities provide the best long-term outcomes for conservation, according to new research from the University of East Anglia in the UK and partners in France. An inter- national team conducted a systematic re- view that found conservation success is the exception rather than the rule. The study suggests the answer could be equi- table conservation, which empowers and supports the environmental stewardship of Indigenous peoples and local communities. The researchers studied the outcomes of 169 conservation projects around the world, primarily across Africa, Asia and Latin America. They investigated how gover- nance—the arrangements and decision- making behind conservation efforts—af- fects both nature and the well-being of Indigenous peoples and local communities. International conservation organizations and governments often lead the charge on conservation projects, excluding or con- trolling local practices, most prominently through strict protected areas. The study re- commends Indigenous peoples and local communities need to be at the helm of con- servation efforts, with appropriate support from outside, including policies and laws that recognize their knowledge systems. Sources: Ecology&Society (2021) doi.org/10. 5751/ES-12625-260319 & Phys.org (2021) phys.org/news/2021-09-indigenous-local- key-successful-nature.html


Up to half of world’s wild tree species could be at risk of extinction Between one-third and half of the world’s wild tree species are at risk of extinction, scientists warn following the most compre- hensive global investigation to date. Forest clearance for farming is the biggest threat, according to the State of the World’s Trees report. The 5-year study found 17,510 spe- cies of trees are threatened, twice the num- ber of threatened mammals, birds, amphib- ians and reptiles combined, and 29.9%of all 58,497 known tree species. But the pro- portion at risk is likely to be higher as a fur- ther 7.1% were deemed possibly threatened and 21.6%were insufficiently evaluated.Only 41.5% were confirmed as safe. The problem is evident across the globe. Botanic Gardens Conservation International has recom- mended an expansion of protected area coverage for threatened species, planting campaigns that focus on the highest-risk populations, closer global collaboration, more funding for conservation efforts, and greater efforts to back up species in botanic gardens and seed banks. Source: The Guardian (2021) theguardian. com/environment/2021/sep/01/up-to- half-worlds-wild-tree-species-could-risk- extinction


Birds of prey face global decline Despite a few high-profile conservation suc- cess stories, birds of prey are in decline worldwide. A new analysis of data from the IUCN and BirdLife International found that 30%of 557 raptor species worldwide are considered threatened. Eighteen species are categorized asCritically Endangered, includ- ing the Philippine eagle, the hooded vulture and the Annobon scops owl. Other species are in danger of becoming locally extinct in specific regions, meaning theymay no long- er play critical roles as top predators in those ecosystems. Harpy eagles were once wide- spread throughout southern Mexico and Central and South America, but tree cutting and burning have dramatically shrunk their range. Of the threatened birds of prey that are active mostly during the day—including most hawks, eagles and vultures—54%had decreasing populations. The same was true for 47% of threatened nocturnal raptors such as owls. Globally, the biggest threats to these birds are habitat loss, climate change and toxic substances. Sources: Proceedings of theNationalAcademy of Sciences of the United States of America (2021) doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2018203118 & ABC News (2021) abcnews.go.com/ Technology/wireStory/birds-prey-face- global-decline-habitat-loss-poisons- 79728573


Oryx, 2021, 55(6), 803–808 © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605321001356


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