On December 15, the Government of Monaco, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature signed a partnership agreement to support the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with an exceptional contribution of 600,000 euros over the next three years.
Under the leadership of HSH Prince Albert Il of Monaco, the Government of Monaco and his Foundation, both Members of IUCN, are committed and active leaders in the fields of climate change and protection of nature. The three entities intend, through this agreement, to strengthen their collaboration towards the achievement of their shared objectives in the area of species conservation.
Established in 1964, IUCN’S Red List of Threatened Species is the barometer of life on Earth. This precious tool is the world’s most comprehensive data source on the status of biodiversity on a global scale to inform decision-making and measure progress towards commitments. By objectively assessing the extinction risk of animal, plant and fungi species, the Red List plays a fundamental role in biodiversity conservation and protection. It provides information about range, population size, habitat and ecology, use and/or trade, and threats.
The most recent Red List update, published on December 9, 2022, highlighted dramatic declines in marine life around the world, mainly due to human activities such as unsustainable fishing and by-catch, poaching, criminal networks, pollution, climate change and disease. The contribution given by the Government of Monaco and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation will contribute to the continuous development of the Red List of Threatened Species and will also support the studies conducted by IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) specialist groups on sharks, seahorses, pipefishes and sea dragons, providing independent technical and scientific advice to improve the conservation status of these species.
Olivier Wenden, Vice President and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation said that “the Foundation is proud to support the crucial work undertaken by IUCN over the years and more specifically through the establishment of the Red List of Threatened Species. We are pleased to contribute to improving the state of knowledge on certain marine species that are less studied today due to a lack of funding but are just as important for the balance of ecosystems. This partnership is fully aligned with our mission to protect biodiversity and contribute to species recovery while supporting science. ”
The Red List update reinforces IUCN’s urgent call for a post-2020 global biodiversity framework ambitious enough to halt the destruction of nature – an urgent call for a greater sense of responsibility towards nature that is shared by the Government of Monaco and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation at the international level to ensure a sustainable future for us all.
PHOTO: Pillar coral, assessed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List Francoise Cabada-Blanco (Dcylindrus_SSC_003)
