THE RED LIST STATUS OF EUROPE’S OVERLOOKED SPECIES LIFE14 PRE BE 001 – Layman’s report This project was co-funded by the European Union under the LIFE Financial Instrument and the Grant Agreement n. LIFE14 PRE BE 001 About IUCN Created in 1948, IUCN represents one of the world’s largest and most diverse environmental networks. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of more than 1,300 member organisations and the input of over 15,000 volunteer experts, organised in six commissions. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. The IUCN Global Species Programme supports the activities of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and individual Specialist Groups, as well as implementing global species conservation initiatives. It is an integral part of the IUCN Secretariat and is managed from IUCN’s international headquarters in Gland, Switzerland. What is the IUCN Red List? The European Red List The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM is the When conducting regional or national assessments, world’s most comprehensive information source on and to ensure that the criteria are applied the extinction risk of plant and animal species. It is a appropriately at such scales, the IUCN has compilation of the conservation status of species at developed the Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red the global level, based on the best scientific List Criteria at Regional Levels.1 information available. The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria are based on a set of quantitative criteria linked to population trends, size and structure, threats, and geographic ranges of species. While they were 1 https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/redlistguidelines.pdf developed for use at the global level, the criteria can also be applied for regional or national assessments. Establishing a European Red List of Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Saproxylic Beetles, Terrestrial Molluscs and Vascular Plants The objective of this project was to produce a European Red List of bryophytes and pteridophytes, to complete the existing European Red Lists for terrestrial molluscs, and to assess a selection of saproxylic beetles and vascular plants (shrubs and trees), six species groups that play a key role in providing ecosystem services. The status of a total of 4,196 species was assessed over the 4 years of the project (2015-2019) using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria adjusted for regional assessments . A total of six European Red Lists were produced, three online brochures and three paper copy booklets. The geographical scope is continent-wide, extending from Iceland in the west to the Urals in the east, and from Franz Josef Land in the north to the Canary Islands in the south. The Caucasus region is not included. Red List assessments were made at two regional levels: for geographical Europe, and for the 28 Member States of the European Union. Developing a European Red List for these species groups has provided a comprehensive overview of their extinction risk, distributions and main threats in Europe, and will contribute to guiding policy decisions and conservation actions. The IUCN Red List Assessment CompletingProcess and publishing a Red List assessment is a time-consuming process, which is why these projects typically take 2-4 years to complete, depending on the number of species being assessed. The process involves extensive literature searches (published and unpublished scientific literature and reports, internet searches) and interviewing species experts. Sometimes workshops need to be held where species experts get together to discuss the available information and carry out assessments. The first step in the process is to train the experts (assessors) in the use of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. During this project a total of 15 workshops were held; 3 of which were training workshops and 12 were assessment workshops to assess subsets of species thought to be the most threatened and/or for which there was not enough data (5 of these were held for Bryophytes, 1 for Ferns, 1 for Beetles , 2 for Terrestrial Molluscs and for 3 Trees and shrubs). Figure 1. The IUCN Red List Criteria and Categories used in regional assessments. The percentage threatened reported throughout this document for each species group are calculated by combining the Critically Endangered (CR), a. Endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU) Categories. All of the assessment information was then entered into a database (the Species Information System – SIS). Once the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria have been applied to the compiled information, a draft assessment is ready. The draft assessment needs to be reviewed by external experts and by IUCN staff to ensure that all the knowledge about the species has been compiled and that the criteria have been applied properly. Once this has been completed the final assessment can be submitted to the IUCN Red List Unit for final quality checks. The assessment is then published on the IUCN Red List website. Lycopods & Ferns PROFILE b. Lycopods and Ferns are collectively known as Pteridophytes . This study assessed 194 species found in Europe of THREATS The main threats to lycopods and which 21.1% of ferns come from increasing populations were in EXTINCTION RISK OF LYCOPODS AND FERNS* urbanisation and expansion of decline and 19% were infrastructures, human intrusion and *see Figure 1 for abbreviations disturbance and pollution. threatened. SPECIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT CONSERVATION MEASURES As species are directly affected by fragmentation, the protection of their habitats should be prioritised when designing conservation measures, particularly because they are hard to breed in sanctuaries (ex situ conservation). c. Therefore, effective protected area management is essential, as well as The Piedmont Quillwort Isoetes malinverniana has declined by 80% in habitat restoration of aquatic habitats and wetlands that are highly effected by the last 30 years and is assessed as pollution. being Critically Endangered. This is due to the species’ reliance on the traditional maintenance of ancient rice field irrigation canals in Northern Italy. Dig a little deeper: https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/46931 z. Reach a little higher: https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/48512 Trees PROFILE Trees are essential for life on Earth. This project assessed THREATS 454 species, of which 42.3% The main threats to trees are threatened. 72% of species are invasive and had restricted population sizes. problematic species, Precise population trends livestock farming, land proved to be difficult to measure abandonment, ecosystem modification, due to the longevity of their deforestation and wood lifespan. harvesting. EXTINCTION RISK OF TREES SPECIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT d. CONSERVATION MEASURES z. e. In order to halt the degrading condition of The horse chestnut, Aesculus hippocastanum, is widely found across most of Europe. Europe’s native forests, conservation action must be taken on the ground. However, this iconic tree is facing a multitude of threats one of which is from an alien Expanding in situ conservation efforts to invasive species called the leaf miner moth, z. incorporate threatened species not found Cameraria ohridella. This pest reduces the in ex situ collections is also a priority. survival and regeneration of the tree, negatively affecting population size. Terrestrial Molluscs z. THREATS PROFILE Of the 2,480 known terrestrial The primary threat to terrestrial molluscs is natural mollusc species in Europe, systems modification. This 1,233 species were assessed means activities such as quarrying, logging and in this project. 21.8% of livestock grazing which terrestrial mollusc species are fragment and reduce habitat area and quality, leading to a threatened and 6% of species EXTINCTION RISK OF decline in snail abundance are thought to be decreasing in TERRESTRIAL MOLLUSCS especially larger species. population size although data on this is very poor. SPECIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT CONSERVATION MEASURES Major conservation actions that would benefit these species include habitat restoration, the avoidance of over- exploitation of springs and groundwater sources, and reduction of pollution resulting from agriculture and f. g. urbanisation . Species conservation planning and invasive species Wollastonaria turricula is an example of an extreme management are also recommended. small-range snail species, endemic to Ilhéu de Cima, Madeira (Portugal) that was once under threat from unmanaged grazing. Now that Ilhéu de Cima’s feral goat population has been eradicated vegetation has recovered and Wollastonaria turricula has been saved from extinction. The species is currently listed as Vulnerable. Keep up to speed: https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/48439 x. Selected endemic Shrubs PROFILE THREATS Shrubs are low-lying evergreen The biggest threat endemic or deciduous woody plants that shrubs face comes from grow in a vast variety of habitats invasive species, livestock farming and fires. ranging from coastal heathlands up into alpine and The rise in tourism across oromediterranean habitats. Europe is also in part They are vital in providing soil responsible for their decline. stability, and their decline has increased landslide risk. Almost half, 48%, of the 262 selected shrub species EXTINCTION RISK OF SELECTED assessed are under threat. ENDEMIC SHRUBS 24.6% of populations are thought to be in decline, h. SPECIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT A species of broom shrub (Genista x. i. cilentina) is found in Europe only in one National Park (Cilento National Park) in south-western Italy. Its Go one-step further: habitat is declining in extent and quality due to tourism, fires, and https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/li urban development, and as a result, brary/files/documents/RL -4-025-En.pdf as with many other shrub species, is at risk of completely disappearing from the region. CONSERVATION MEASURES Invasive alien species need to be tackled in certain areas to prevent replacement of native flora by exotic species. A third of endemic shrubs have no trend; therefore, further monitoring/data collection is needed.