IUCN updates the Red List of Threatened Species: 38,543 species are threatened with extinction

　　China News Agency, Paris, September 4 (Reporter Li Yang) The World Conservation Union (IUCN) updated its red list of endangered species on the 4th local time. Among the 138,374 species assessed by IUCN, 38,543 are threatened with extinction.

　　Bruno Obol, Director-General of IUCN, said on the same day that the updated Red List of Threatened Species shows that human life and biodiversity issues are increasingly intertwined.

He pointed out that the World Conservation Conference is being held, and participating countries and related parties must seize the opportunity to strengthen biodiversity protection and strive to achieve binding goals.

　　Obol also said that although the marine ecology is facing increasing pressure, if countries are truly committed to sustainable development practices, species can be restored.

In the updated Red List of Endangered Species, IUCN re-evaluated the seven most commercially caught tuna species. As countries implemented sustainable fishing quotas and cracked down on illegal fishing, four tuna species showed signs of recovery.

　　IUCN also reassessed the shark and rays species in the world, showing that 37% of sharks and rays are threatened with extinction, mainly due to overfishing, and further impacts by habitat loss and climate change.

　　The largest known lizard in the world, the Komodo dragon, has changed from "vulnerable" to "endangered" in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.

According to reports, this species is endemic to Indonesia and only appears in the Komodo National Park and its vicinity, which is included in the World Heritage List.

This species is increasingly being affected by climate change, and rising global temperatures are expected to reduce the Komodo dragon’s suitable habitat by 30% in the next 45 years.

　　The IUCN Red List of Endangered Species is classified according to the number of species decline rate, total number of species, geographical distribution and other rules, the highest level is "extinct", followed by "wild extinction", "critically endangered", "endangered" and "vulnerable" etc. .

Among the 138374 species assessed by IUCN, 902 species are listed as "extinct", 80 species are listed as "extinct in the wild", and 38,543 species are threatened with extinction.

　　The World Conservation Conference was held in France from September 3 to 11. The conference was co-sponsored by the French government and IUCN with the theme "One Nature, One Future".

(over)