Vanishing Wildlife: The Facts about Endangered Species – UGA Today

Report on Species Endangerment and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The global crisis of species extinction represents a significant challenge to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The rate of biodiversity loss serves as a critical indicator of planetary health and directly impacts human well-being and sustainable development.

The Scale of the Biodiversity Crisis and SDG 15

An endangered species is defined by a high risk of extinction in the wild. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), over 47,000 species are currently threatened, accounting for more than a quarter of all assessed species. This alarming trend directly undermines the objectives of SDG 15 (Life on Land), which calls for urgent action to halt biodiversity loss.

The interconnectedness of ecosystems means that the loss of a single species can have cascading effects. The Indian Vulture Crisis of the 1990s provides a stark example. A 97% decline in the vulture population, caused by a veterinary drug in their food supply, led to a surge in the feral dog population and a subsequent rise in human rabies cases, resulting in an estimated 50,000 human deaths. This illustrates a critical link between biodiversity (SDG 15) and public health outcomes (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being).

Drivers of Endangerment: A Conflict with Sustainable Practices

Species endangerment is a multifaceted issue, often resulting from cumulative pressures that conflict with the principles of sustainable development.

Primary Threats to Terrestrial and Aquatic Life

The primary drivers of species extinction are overwhelmingly linked to human activities that contravene several SDGs. These pressures include:

• Habitat Destruction: Deforestation and intensive agriculture for global supply chains degrade natural habitats, directly opposing the targets of SDG 15 and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
• Pollution: Contaminants in land and water ecosystems weaken species’ resilience.
• Invasive Species: Global trade and travel can introduce non-native species that outcompete native wildlife, disrupting local ecosystems.
• Disease: Pathogens, often introduced or exacerbated by human activity, can be the final catalyst for extinction in populations already stressed by other factors. The spread of chytrid fungus, which has devastated amphibian populations worldwide, highlights the risks associated with global trade routes.

Case Studies: Integrating Conservation with the SDG Framework

The Baird’s Tapir: Balancing Economic Growth and Conservation (SDG 8 & SDG 15)

The Baird’s Tapir, native to Central and South America, faces extinction due to habitat loss from expanding agriculture (bananas, pineapples, palm oil) and increased contact with livestock, which exposes them to novel diseases. This situation exemplifies the tension between economic activities (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth) and conservation mandates (SDG 15). Sustainable solutions are being explored that align these goals, including:

1. Developing ecotourism to provide alternative livelihoods.
2. Engaging local farmers in conservation efforts through non-lethal deterrents.
3. Fostering community partnerships, a key component of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

The Diamondback Terrapin: Sustainable Infrastructure and Coastal Ecosystems (SDG 11 & SDG 14)

In coastal Georgia, the diamondback terrapin population is declining due to threats from human infrastructure and activities. Road mortality and accidental capture in crab pots (bycatch) are significant pressures. This challenge highlights the need to integrate biodiversity considerations into urban and coastal planning, directly addressing:

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): By designing turtle-friendly roadways and raising public awareness.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): By mitigating the impacts of fishing practices on non-target species in coastal marsh ecosystems.

The Imperative for Conservation: A Foundation for the 2030 Agenda

Protecting endangered species is not an isolated environmental issue but a fundamental requirement for achieving broader sustainable development.

Ecosystem Services as a Pillar of Human Well-being

Biodiversity underpins essential ecosystem services that are vital for human survival and economic stability. The loss of species creates an “extinction debt” that diminishes the resilience of natural systems.

• Food Security: Approximately 85% of food crops rely on animal pollinators like bats and insects. The loss of these species threatens global food production, directly impacting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).
• Disease Control: Species such as frogs help control insect populations, including disease-carrying mosquitoes, contributing to SDG 3.

A Call to Action: Public Stewardship and Partnerships for the Goals

Effective conservation requires a multi-stakeholder approach grounded in science, education, and public participation. Wildlife is a public resource, and its stewardship is a shared responsibility. Achieving conservation success depends on fostering curiosity and awareness (SDG 4: Quality Education) and building robust collaborations between researchers, governments, and local communities, embodying the spirit of SDG 17. Protecting biodiversity is essential to ensuring that ecosystems can continue to support both wild species and human needs for generations to come.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on endangered species touches upon several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus is on biodiversity and ecosystems, but the discussion extends to human health, sustainable production, and partnerships. The following SDGs are addressed:

• SDG 15: Life on Land: This is the most central SDG to the article. The entire text revolves around the threat of extinction to terrestrial species (vultures, tapirs), the causes of this threat (habitat destruction, deforestation, pollution, invasive species, disease), and the importance of biodiversity for ecosystem health.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: This goal is relevant through the discussion of the diamondback terrapin, a species that lives in coastal marsh ecosystems. The article specifically mentions threats like “accidental capture in crab pots,” which constitutes bycatch, a major issue in marine and coastal conservation.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article establishes a direct link between the loss of a species and human health. The “Indian Vulture Crisis” is used as a stark example where the 97% decline in the vulture population led to an increase in feral dogs and a subsequent rise in rabies, causing an estimated 50,000 human deaths.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article connects species endangerment to human economic activities. It states that the Baird’s Tapir is losing its habitat due to “growing farms and export industries (like bananas, pineapples, and palm oil),” highlighting how unsustainable production patterns drive biodiversity loss.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article emphasizes the need for collaboration to achieve conservation success. It highlights partnerships between university researchers (Dr. Hernandez and Dr. Maerz), “local governments and residents,” and farmers to implement solutions like “turtle-friendly roadways” and ecotourism.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues and solutions discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
   • Explanation: This target is the core theme of the article. The text is dedicated to explaining why species become endangered, citing the IUCN’s finding that “more than 47,000 species worldwide are threatened with extinction,” and providing examples like the Indian Vulture, Baird’s Tapir, and diamondback terrapin.
2. Target 15.8: By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species.
   • Explanation: The article explicitly mentions invasive species as a threat. It gives the example of the “chytrid fungus spread through amphibians on global trade routes” and “avian malaria… introduced to Hawaii when human travel brought mosquitoes.”
3. Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices…
   • Explanation: The threat to the diamondback terrapin from being trapped in crab pots is described as “bycatch, the accidental capture of an animal.” This directly relates to the impact of destructive fishing/harvesting practices on non-target species in coastal ecosystems.
4. Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.
   • Explanation: The article links the collapse of the vulture population in India to a public health crisis, noting that the resulting skyrocket in the feral dog population led to “a rise in rabies” and an estimated 50,000 human deaths. This illustrates how ecological disruption can exacerbate communicable disease epidemics.
5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…
   • Explanation: The article concludes by highlighting the importance of collaboration. It describes how Dr. Maerz’s team “collaborates with local governments and residents to design turtle-friendly roadways” and how Dr. Hernandez believes “conservation must involve local people.” This points directly to the formation of multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable development.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress.

• For Target 15.5 (Protect threatened species):
  • Indicator: Red List Index. The article directly refers to the “IUCN Red List” and states that “more than 47,000 species worldwide are threatened with extinction.” This is a direct reference to the primary indicator for this target.
  • Indicator: Population decline rates. The article provides specific data, such as the Indian vulture population declining “by 97%,” which serves as a direct measure of the severity of species loss.
• For Target 15.8 (Address invasive species):
  • Indicator: Number of extinctions caused by invasive species. The article provides a concrete number, stating the invasive chytrid fungus is “presumed responsible for the extinction of more than 90” amphibian species. This is a direct measure of the impact of invasive pathogens.
• For Target 3.3 (End epidemics):
  • Indicator: Number of deaths from zoonotic diseases. The article cites a study that “estimated that nearly 50,000 people died as a result” of the rabies outbreak following the vulture decline. This is a direct health indicator linked to ecological imbalance.
• For Target 14.4 (Reduce destructive practices):
  • Indicator: Levels of bycatch. The article describes the problem of terrapins being accidentally captured and drowned in crab pots. While not providing a number, the description of “bycatch” itself is a qualitative indicator of unsustainable harvesting methods that need to be addressed.

Source: news.uga.edu