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Review
. 2017 May;46(4):443-455.
doi: 10.1007/s13280-016-0892-4. Epub 2017 Jan 31.

Meeting the Aichi targets: Pushing for zero extinction conservation

Stephan M Funk  1   2 , Dalia Conde  3   4 , John Lamoreux  5 , Julia E. Fa  6
Affiliations
Review

Meeting the Aichi targets: Pushing for zero extinction conservation

Stephan M Funk et al. Ambio. 2017 May.

Abstract

Effective protection of the ~19 000 IUCN-listed threatened species has never been more pressing. Ensuring the survival of the most vulnerable and irreplaceable taxa and places, such as those identified by the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species and their associated sites (AZEs&s), is an excellent opportunity to achieve the Aichi 2020 Targets T11 (protected areas) and T12 (preventing species extinctions). AZE taxa have small, single-site populations that are especially vulnerable to human-induced extinctions, particularly for the many amphibians. We show that AZEs&s can be protected feasibly and cost-effectively, but action is urgent. We argue that the Alliance, whose initial main aim was to identify AZEs&s, must be followed up by a second-generation initiative that directs and co-ordinates AZE conservation activities on the ground. The prominent role of zoos, conservation NGOs, and governmental institutions provides a combination of all-encompassing knowhow that can, if properly steered, maximize the long-term survival of AZEs&s.

Keywords: AZE; Endangered species; IUCN Red List; Protected areas.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
EDGE species amongst AZE mammal, bird and amphibian taxa. The EDGE score estimates evolutionary distinctiveness, thus irreplaceability, jointly with conservation status (Isaac et al. 2007). It increases with the degree of irreplaceability and conservation threat. EDGE species are the 100 highest-ranking amphibians, birds and mammals, respectively. Amongst AZE animals, mammals have the highest proportion of EDGE species (orange) and birds the highest proportion of non-EDGE species (green). EDGE data from Isaac et al. (2007) and the Zoological Society of London (2016)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Body size distribution of AZE mammals and birds. Sizes are biased towards small and light birds, mammals with 92 and 79%, respectively, lighter than 1 kg, 65, and 56%, respectively, lighter than 100 g. All AZE amphibians and reptiles are lighter than 1 kg and are not shown here
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Total annual costs for conserving AZEs&s for sites where estimates are available (Conde et al. 2015). A Median cost for amphibians (N = 502), birds (N = 165), mammals (N = 157), reptiles (N = 17) and sites (N = 533) stratified whether sites are inside or outside OECD countries except for reptiles because of low N. B Site costs, ordered according to the values, for OECD and non-OECD sites
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References

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    1. American Bird Conservancy. 2005. Alliance for Zero extinctions. Pinpointing and Preventing Imminent Extinctions. Report. https://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/AZE_report.pdf.
    1. AZE. 2010. Sites & Species. Alliance for Zero Extinction. http://www.zeroextinction.org/maps/AZE_map_12022010.pdf.
    1. AZE. 2011. Memorandum of Understanding among all parties of the “Alliance for Zero Extinction.” http://www.zeroextinction.org/pdf/TermsofUseAZEdata_2011.pdf.

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