iucn european red lists of invertebrates

IUCN European

Red Lists of

Invertebrates

Keith Alexander

ERL Saproxylic Beetles Advisor

Cálix, M. and Allen, D. (input)

IUCN Species Programme

BRINGING BUGS BACK TO LIFE: action for threatened

invertebrates - LIFE Platform meeting on invertebrates

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

The IUCN Red List of

Threatened Species

• Assesses species risk of becoming extinct,

highlighting species that are most likely to

become extinct in the near future given

current knowledge about population trends,

range, and recent, current or projected

threats.

• Based on the best scientific information

available.

• Widely used to inform and influence

biodiversity conservation and

environmental policy at different scales.

• Can be used both at global and regional

scales, such as the European Red Lists

(ERLs)

World’s most comprehensive information source for extinction risk of species.


Why do we need ERLs?

• To review of the conservation status of species in

Europe, identifying species threatened with

extinction at the European level, also identifying

the major threats.

• To inform regional legislation on wildlife

conservation and protected areas.

• To support priority setting for conservation actions

taken at the European level and to guide the

allocation of financial resources for conservation

(LIFE Programme).

• To implement conservation planning tools, such as

Key Biodiversity Areas.

• To measure progress towards achieving the EU

2020 Biodiversity Strategy and other international

biodiversity conservation targets.

Rhagium inquisitor © Frédéric Chevaillot


European Invertebrates

The importance of

invertebrates

• Invertebrates are the most abundant

and species-rich group of animals.

• Provide critical ecosystem services

such as pest control, pollination, soil

creation, water filtration, etc…

Key European policies and

initiatives for invertebrates

• EU Habitats Directive.

• EU Water Framework Directive.

• EU Pollinators Initiative.


Why Invertebrate ERLs?

• To determine the extinction risk of

invertebrate species.

• To identify the main threats to

invertebrates in Europe.

• To identify concrete conservation

measures to address the major

threats.

• To raise awareness to the role of

invertebrates in European

ecosystems.

Stelis annulata © David Genoud


The IUCN European Red List

of Threatened Species

• Funded by the European Commission (DG ENV), started in 2006.

• Invertebrate groups assessed so far:

o Bees

o Butterflies

o Dragonflies

o Grasshoppers, crickets and bush-crickets

o Non-marine molluscs

o Terrestrial molluscs

o Saproxylic Beetles (selection of 693 sps)

Anogcodes rufiventris © Frédéric Chevaillot

So far ≃ 6,365 invertebrate species

assessed

Of which 1,123 are threatened (17.6%)


Establishing a European Red List of Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Saproxylic Beetles, Terrestrial Molluscs and Vascular Plants From May 2015 to September 2019

• ERL Saproxylic Beetles brochure

published in Jan 2018;

• 693 species assessed so far;

• 17.9% and 21.7% of species are

considered threatened in Europe and in

the EU 27/28.

• ERL Terrestrial Molluscs brochure being

finalized, will be published in 2018;

• 2,496 species assessed in total;

• 21.8% and 25.2% of species are

considered threatened in Europe and in

the EU 27/28.

The current LIFE Project


ERL Terrestrial Molluscs

Key Recommendations

• Further research is needed to understand the

status of Data Deficient taxa, and to resolve

remaining taxonomic uncertainties.

• Conservation strategies for terrestrial molluscs

with the highest risk of extinction should be

developed, funded and implemented.

• Key mollusc habitats (old-growth forest,

limestone areas) and areas of high species

richness should be protected.

Arion spp.© Brian Eversham.


ERL Saproxylic Beetles

Key Recommendations

• All remaining European saproxylic beetles

should be assessed to have a full understanding

of the status of this group.

• Conservation strategies for saproxylic beetles

with the highest risk of extinction should be

developed and implemented.

• Veteran trees should be preserved throughout

Europe, in forests, pastureland, orchards, and

urban areas.


• Logging, tree loss and wood harvesting are

by far the greatest threats to both threatened

and non-threatened saproxylic beetles,

affecting more than half the species (54.5%,

375 species), including 76 threatened

species.

• Wood pastures a neglected habitat type.

• The role of in-field and hedgerow trees for

Osmoderma and Cerambyx cerdo.

• Other major threats include urbanisation and

tourist development, increase in fire

frequency/intensity and climate change.

Major threats to

saproxylic beetles

Cortodera humeralis © Hervé Bouyon.


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What’s next?


Some Ideas


Thank you!

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