The IUCN Red List: A tool for monitoring forest health Dr. Murphy - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The IUCN Red List:

A tool for monitoring forest health

• Dr. Murphy Westwood, Tree Conservation Specialist

12th Meeting of the Continential Dialogue on Non-Native Forest Insects & Diseases August 17, 2016

• Population size
• Population fragmentation
• Geographic range
• Habitat quality
• Threats
• Level of exploitation

Threat categories are based on demographic & ecological data

The Red List of Threatened Species

What is a “threatened” species?

Balsam woolly adelgid

Trends and drivers of forest threat

Trends and drivers of forest threat

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

EX EW CR EN VU NT DD LC

North American tree species on IUCN Red List

229 species of concern

Trends and drivers of forest threat

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

EX EW CR EN VU NT DD North American trees threatened by non-native pests/diseases All threats Invasives

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 Invasive species & diseases Livestock farming & ranching Fire & fire suppression Climate change & severe weather Residential & commercial development Logging & wood harvesting Recreational activities Annual & perennial non-timber crops Geological events Pollution Gathering terrestrial plants Other Hunting Energy production & mining Wood & pulp plantations Transportation

Threats to North American tree species

Trends and drivers of forest threat

70% of tree species of concern

Using the IUCN Red List

Limitations Applications

• Species snapshots
• Threats
• Ecology
• Habitat
• Population trends
• Advanced query options
• Status
• Threat class
• Life form
• Date assessed
• Taxonomic rank
• Geographic region/state
• Analyze trends
• Identify gaps in knowledge
• Incomplete information
• 412 tree species
• Not compiled systematically
• Assessments out of date
• 42% >10 years old
• Slow to react to rapid invasions
• EAB/Fraxinus profunda

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species