Endangered species

The eight species of bear live in more than 65 countries or autonomous regions in four continents, in a variety of habitats from tropical rainforests to arctic ice. Numerous human cultures around the world symbolically or physically try to incorporate the power of bears into their people. But all species have declined in numbers due to the impacts of human activities, including: habitat alteration and destruction; unregulated killing of bears for sport; sale of parts for medicinal products; and protection of crops or livestock.

Deer are a unique group of mammals recognised for their grace and beauty. Some are also prime examples of flagship species, whose continued survival sustains the complex interplay of flora and fauna. Today many species are under threat of extinction.

The first comprehensive treatment of North American rodents of conservation concern. This action plan summarises the rodent fauna of North America and provides available information on every rodent taxon that has been considered to be of conservation concern by state, provincial and private conservation agencies and regional experts. It is hoped that the survey provided in this action plan will serve as a common ground for all these parties in drawing up conservation strategies for rodents

Sharks and their relatives, the rays and chimaeras, are the diverse group of cartilaginous fishes that have evolved over 400 million years. Historically considered of low economic value to large-scale fisheries, today many of these fishes have become the target of directed commercial and recreational fisheries around the world, and they are increasingly taken in the by-catch of fisheries targeting other species. This report emphasizes the widely-acknowledged need to improve shark fishery monitoring, expand biological research and take management action.

Summaries are provided on the conservation status of over 7,000 globally threatened tree species with the 1994 IUCN categories and criteria assigned. The conservation evaluations were carried out in association with members of the IUCN SSC Specialist Groups and a wide range of experts worldwide. The book concludes that 10 per cent of the world's trees are threatened with extinction and calls for a range of measures to reverse the trend of species loss