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The IUCN Red List of Ecosystems? Fig IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Ecosystem risk assessments for conservation actions ©Diana Carolina Goncalves Rodrigues Coral reefs are in danger and rainforests are disappearing. How much remains of these ecosystems, how are their functions changing and how likely are they to disappear? Understanding risks to ecosystems C. Degradation of A. Declining abiotic distribution Human actions are changing ecosystems1 at an alarming rate. environment Ecosystems across the globe continue to be degraded with consequent biodiversity loss, and this undermines their capacity to support life. However, to identify the most Risk of loss of appropriate actions and priority areas to reduce the risk of characteristic ecosystem loss, we need scientifically credible and objective native biota assessments of risks to ecosystems. B. Restricted D. Altered abiotic A comprehensive, scientific understanding of the risks to distribution interactions ecosystems, which are intrinsically linked to livelihoods, will ensure that appropriate conservation and people-oriented E. Quantitative risk actions are implemented on the ground. analysis What is the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems? Fig. 1 Mechanisms of ecosystem collapse and symptoms of collapse risk. The IUCN Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) is a standardised, globally recognised framework for assessing the status of The RLE protocol includes five criteria for assessing the risk of ecosystems at local, national, regional and global levels. ecosystem collapse (Fig. 1): criteria A and B are based on Assessments determine the level of risk that an ecosystem spatial symptoms of ecosystem collapse, while criteria C and D faces, with a risk classification system that mirrors the Red List are based on functional symptoms of ecosystem collapse. of Species (Fig. 2). An RLE assessment is precise, realistic, and Under criterion E, the multiple risk levels and symptoms are simple. It is based on a set of rules, or criteria, formulated on projected over the next 50-100 years through scenario the hypothesis that ecosystem risk is a function of the species modelling, in order to understand the longer term impacts on that compose them, their interaction, and the ecological the ecosystems and services they provide. processes they depend on. When doing an RLE assessment, a category is assigned, ranging from Not Evaluated to Collapsed for each Criteria 1 An ecosystem refers to complexes of organisms and their associated physical complex; an abiotic environment or complex; the interactions within and between environment, within an area. Ecosystems have four essential elements: a biotic them; and a physical space in which these operate. INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE https://iucnrle.org (A to E, for which data is available). In order to do so, the the main threats to the ecosystem in this area. The assessment ecosystem is studied and consultations are carried out with classified the seagrass ecosystem of South Australia as stakeholders and experts on the ground. Key threats are Endangered (Fig. 3). diagnosed, quantifying their impacts on ecosystem properties. Additionally, relative risks are estimated and evaluated to Criterion A B C D E identify alternative management scenarios to reduce those Threat risks. During an assessment, RLE builds on the existing data status and assessments available for the ecosystem, becoming a mechanism to collate all data into a systematic risk Fig. 3. Result of the assessment on seagrass in South Australia. assessment. Assessing environmental degradation affecting this ecosystem allows us to take measures to avoid a continuing degradation of the ecosystem distribution and state. @ Vittorio Ricci Fig. 2 Categories used by the Red List of Ecosystems. How are the Results Implemented? An RLE assessment can be used to support conservation planning, by supporting zoning assessments, strategies for threat reductions, and for the design and implementation of ecosystem management plans. Regular assessments provide a baseline and monitoring method to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation strategies and to adapt these strategies as necessary. It can be used to implement an early-warning system, to localise The Red List of Ecosystems and global threats and address them, with lessons learned that can feed into policies for long-term conservation and management. challenges The conservation and management of ecosystems has never RLE can help quantify ecosystem services and potential losses, been more central to the future of biodiversity and human well- which can be used to develop Nature-Based solutions that being on Earth. The CBD Aichi targets and UN Sustainable effectively protect people’s livelihoods. Development Goals mandate global action that depends directly or indirectly on ecosystem assessment. The information The case of seagrasses in South Australia infrastructure to support these global policy initiatives is developing rapidly, including the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that thrive in shallow (RLE), which aims for a global assessment of the world’s oceanic and estuarine waters. Recognized among the most ecosystems by 2025. All published assessments will be publicly productive ecosystems on Earth, seagrasses are also among available in a database, an instrument of fundamental the most rapidly declining ones. Seagrass ecosystems provides importance to lead global conservation actions. habitats and nursery areas to a variety of marine invertebrates and vertebrates. @ Kelvin Passfield For more information, visit https://iucnrle.org/ and https://www.iucn.org/ commissions/commission-ecosystem-management/our-work/cems-thematic- groups/red-list-ecosystems. IUCN acknowledges the MAVA Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Australian Research Council, Embassy of the The RLE assessment of the seagrass ecosystem in South Netherlands in Brazil, and Agence Française de Développement for supporting Australia provided information about its decline, and identified IUCN’s work on the Red List of Ecosystems. INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE .
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