Submitted by
Claudia.GRAY.1
on Thu, 11/28/2019 - 15:33
General Information
Resolution
43986
IUCN Constituent
IUCN SSC Phylogenetic Diversity Task Force 2017-2020
Period covered
Geographic scope
Global
Actors involved in implementing this Resolution:
IUCN Members
Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources ( Philippines )
Zoological Society of London ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland )
II. Implementation
Activities carried out to implement this Resolution
Activity
Capacity-building
Description and results/achievements of activities:
Since its launch in 2007, the EDGE of Existence programme (based at the Zoological Society of London, UK) has focused on local capacity building to conserve Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE species). Between 2007 and 2019 the programme has trained 97 early career conservationists (EDGE fellows) to work on 87 different species across 42 countries. Evaluation of this capacity building programme has shown consistent increases in confidence and ability across all cohorts, with 100% of the EDGE fellows continuing to work in conservation, 84% continuing to work on their EDGE species. 100% also report that they have passed on skills and knowledge to build the capacity of those they work with.
Status
On-going
Activity
Field activities
Description and results/achievements of activities:
The EDGE of Existence programme has supported direct action to conserve Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species, through the EDGE fellowship programme and larger projects. The conservation outcomes and successes of the wide range of projects have achieved the following:
• Enabled new policies to protect EDGE species and sites
• Informed protected area management
• Estimated population numbers
• Discovered new populations
• Identified key threats which may not previously have been documented
• Mapped key sites for conservation
• Contributed to improvements in species status (i.e. downlisted on the IUCN Red List)
• Enabled new policies to protect EDGE species and sites
• Informed protected area management
• Estimated population numbers
• Discovered new populations
• Identified key threats which may not previously have been documented
• Mapped key sites for conservation
• Contributed to improvements in species status (i.e. downlisted on the IUCN Red List)
Status
On-going
Activity
Scientific/technical activities
Description and results/achievements of activities:
The EDGE of Existence programme, since its launch, has published or used available peer-reviewed scientific literature to produce annually updated lists of Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species for the following taxonomic groups: mammals, amphibians, birds, reptiles, corals, elasmobranchs and gymnosperms. These lists inform the capacity building and field activities of the programme. In addition, the EDGE of Existence programme continues to research the global threats to evolutionary history worldwide, and produce scientific spatial prioritisations for where conservation action should be targeted to ensure the survival of evolutionarily distinct lineages.
Status
On-going
Identify and briefly describe what future actions/activities are planned for the implementation of this Resolution
Future action / activity
Capacity-building
Description
The EDGE fellowship and scaled up projects will continue to be supported by the EDGE of Existence programme, to improve the conservation status of priority EDGE species.
Future action / activity
Scientific/technical activities
Description
The EDGE of Existence programme will continue to develop new EDGE lists and spatial prioritisation approaches to enable the conservation of evolutionarily distinct and threatened species across an increasing number of taxonomic groups and with improved understanding of spatial priorities.
III. Additional Information
External link(s)
Report status
Published