Reptiles And Cacti Closer To Extinction

July 10, 2024

GS Paper III Environment and Ecology

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has issued a stark warning about the threats posed by invasive species and illegal trade to several reptile and cactus species.

An update to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has highlighted the plight of island reptiles facing competition and predation from introduced snakes.

About Concerned Species

Following species made a concerning position in the IUCN List:

Species	Classification	Reason for Concern
*The Ibiza Wall Lizard (Podarcis pityusensis***)	Endangered	It has been reclassified as endangered from near threatened due to a 50% population decline since 2010, attributed to the *invasive horseshoe whip snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis***) which is occupying its territory.
*Gran Canaria giant Lizard (Gallotia stehlini*) Gran Canaria skink (Chalcides sexlineatus**)	Endangered	The status of the both species have been changed from least concern to endangered. Both species found in Gran Canaria, an island in Spain, face extinction *threats from the California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) introduced in 1998.* Both species have seen population declines exceeding 50% since 2014.
*Ornamental Cacti (Copiapoa cacti)***	Critically Endangered	The IUCN also raises concerns about the illegal trade of ornamental cacti. Endemic to Chile’s Atacama desert, 82% of its species are now critically endangered, a significant increase from 55% in 2013. Infrastructure development further endangers these slow-growing plants. People’s easy accessibility has made it possible to reach poachers.

Impact of Climate Change

Climate change has posed additional threats to the cacti species as the oceanic fog required for their hydration changes with global temperature variations.

On Reproduction: According to the IUCN, the change in movement in oceanic fog makes it impossible for long-lived species to reproduce quickly enough to relocate.

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Suggested Measures

Following actions have been suggested to combat the arising concerns:

Collaboration between Countries: It can help prevent the transportation of poached plants.
Greenhouses: It can offer an alternative in cultivating Copiapoa to offer a sustainable alternative to the worldwide market.
- It is easy to distinguish if Copiapoa cacti have been poached or grown in a greenhouse.
- Poached Copiapoa have a grey tone and are coated in a dusty-looking bloom that protects the plants in one of the driest deserts on Earth, whereas cultivated plants appear greener.

About International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

IUCN brings together governments and civil society organisations, united under the common goal of protecting nature and conserving life on Earth.

Reptiles

Establishment: In 1948
Headquarters: Switzerland
Evaluation: It uses a set of quantitative criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of species.

About Red List

The IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animal, fungus and plant species.

Establishment: In 1964
Critical Indicator: The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity.
Categories under Red List: Refer image

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