The international trade in trochus, pearl oyster, bêche-de-mer and giant clam of the South Pacific is examined. Lack of effective measures to ensure sustainable harvest of these near-shore marine resources is documented and needed actions are recommended.
The 22 species of Megapodes or "thermometer-birds" are found in Australia, New Guinea, eastern Indonesia, the Philippines and some Pacific islands. With changing traditions and demographic patterns, and habitat loss, uncontrolled harvesting has reduced some populations to a point where sustainable use has become untenable. The Action Plan provides the most up-to-date assessment of distribution, status and recommendations of action to ensure survival of the most threatened species.
The threatened species categories used in Red Data Books and Red Lists have been in place for almost 30 years. The Red Data Book categories provide an easily and widely understood method for highlighting those species under higher extinction risk, so as to focus attention on conservation measures designed to protect them. This document, incorporating changes recommended by IUCN members, was adopted by the IUCN Council in 1994.
