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IUCN World Conservation Congress

 

Relevance

  • GS 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

 

Context

  • The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the French government have agreed to hold the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2020 from 3 to 11 September 2021 in Marseille.

 

About the Congress

  • The IUCN World Conservation Congress is where the world comes together to set priorities and drive conservation and sustainable development action.
  • IUCN’s 1400+ government, civil society and indigenous peoples’ member organisations vote on major issues, action which guides humanity’s relationship with our planet for the decades ahead.
  • IUCN’s unique and inclusive membership gives the Congress a powerful mandate as it is not solely government or non-government, but both together.
  • IUCN World Conservation Congress theme include Landscapes; Freshwater; Oceans; Climate change; Rights and governance; Economic and financial systems and Knowledge, innovation and technology.
  • IUCN Members will elect a new Council for 2020-24 i.e.,  for World Conservation Congress 2024.

 

Behler Turtle Conservation Award

 

IUCN Red List

  • The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity.
  • In the recently released data given by IUCN in the World Conservation Congress, it was flagged that around 900 species have officially become extinct.
  • Moreover, 30% of the total species that it assessed face the threat of extinction.
  • Around 80 species are extinct in the wild, and more than 8,400 are critically endangered.
  • It also showed that 37 per cent of the world’s shark and ray species were threatened with extinction.

 

UPSC Current Affairs

 

Positive news from fisheries

  • Four of the seven most commercially fished tuna species have shown signs of recovery. Those are:
    • The Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)—moved from endangered to least concern.
    • The Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii)—moved from critically endangered to endangered.
    • The albacore (Thunnus alalunga)—moved from near threatened to least concern.
    • The yellowfin tunas (Thunnus albacares)—moved from near threatened to least concern.

 

Dibru­ Saikhowa National Park

 

Komoda Dragon

  • The world’s largest living lizard, the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), has been moved from vulnerable to endangered.
  • It is endemic to Indonesia and occurs only in the World Heritage-listed Komodo National Park and neighbouring Flores.
  • Rising global temperature and subsequent sea levels are expected to reduce the Komodo dragon’s suitable habitat by 30% in the next 45 years.
  • Also, Komodo dragons living outside protected areas in Flores are threatened by significant habitat loss due to ongoing human activities.

 

 

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