Meeting the Aichi targets: Pushing for zero extinction conservation

Abstract

Effective protection of the ~19 000 IUCN-listed threatened species has never been more pressing. Ensuring the survival of the most vulnerable and irreplaceable taxa and places, such as those identified by the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species and their associated sites (AZEs&s), is an excellent opportunity to achieve the Aichi 2020 Targets T11 (protected areas) and T12 (preventing species extinctions). AZE taxa have small, single-site populations that are especially vulnerable to human-induced extinctions, particularly for the many amphibians. We show that AZEs&s can be protected feasibly and cost-effectively, but action is urgent. We argue that the Alliance, whose initial main aim was to identify AZEs&s, must be followed up by a second-generation initiative that directs and co-ordinates AZE conservation activities on the ground. The prominent role of zoos, conservation NGOs, and governmental institutions provides a combination of all-encompassing knowhow that can, if properly steered, maximize the long-term survival of AZEs&s.

National level use of International Union for Conservation of Nature knowledge products in American National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans and National Reports to the Convention on Biological Diversity

“…The combination of these knowledge products, particularly those that can easily be disaggregated to the regional, subregional and national level, have great potential for enhancing biodiversity conservation planning (Azam et al, 2016), particularly the Red List, KBAs and Protected Planet (Brooks et al, 2016). Knowledge products can also be combined to enact targeted conservation actions that also contribute to achieving multiple Aichi Targets, such as protecting designated Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) sites (Targets 11 and 12) (Butchart et al, 2012; Funk, Conde, Lamoreux, & Fa, 2017). AZE sites are also a key component in the KBA framework (Brooks et al, 2016).…”

Ecoregions: Mapping Ecosystems to Protect Biodiversity

“…They risk overlooking the imperiled ecoregions despite that they may contain irreplaceable and highly threatened habitats, communities, and species (Dinerstein et al 2017). To address this shortcoming, a number of schemes have emerged that either use ecoregions for priority settings or utilize other regionalization strategies such as the Alliance for Zero Extinction approach (Ricketts et al 2005;Funk et al 2017).…”

“…To select a set of ecoregions that jointly maximizes species richness, endemism, and richness-adjusted endemism ("ǖFF;-endemism"), Funk and Fa (2010) tested the performance and surrogacy of prioritized ecoregions for threatened species according to the IUCN Red List's threat categories, Alliance for Zero Extinction species, and EDGE of Existence species using 26,452 species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals as selection metrics to rank the terrestrial ecoregions. Alliance for Zero Extinction species are those that are restricted to single sites and in danger of imminent extinction (Ricketts et al 2005;Funk et al 2017), and EDGE of Existence species jointly select for evolutionary uniqueness and extinction risk (Isaac et al 2007). All metrics targeted endangerment more efficiently than by chance, but each selected unique sets of top-ranking ecoregions, which overlap only partially, and included different sets of threatened species.…”

“…The concept fits into the IUCN's framework for identifying Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) (IUCN 2016). KBA creates a unified global standard for the identification of important sites for taxonomic or thematic subsets of biodiversity such as Alliance for Zero Extinction sites (Ricketts et al 2005;Funk et al 2017) or Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (Donald et al 2019). KBAs can be selected if they fulfill one of the five criteria for conservation prioritization: threatened species or ecosystems, geographically restricted species or ecosystems, ecological integrity, biological processes or congregations, and irreplaceability.…”

Research methods and reporting practices in zoo and aquarium conservation‐education evaluation

“…With their diverse and plentiful visitorship, there is increasing recognition of the potential role of zoos and aquariums (hereafter “zoos”) in the conservation of global biodiversity (Funk et al. ). Such conservation goals may be achieved by educating the community about conservation issues and promoting sustainable behaviors (e.g., Gusset & Dick ) and by contributing to conservation objectives outlined in global strategic plans (Moss et al.…”