The latest update to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has been published today, revealing that the number of species threatened with extinction is growing. 47,677 species are on the list, of which 17,291 are at serious risk. This includes 21% of mammals, 30% of amphibians, 70% of plants and 35% of invertebrates. Amphibians are the group most seriously at risk, with 1,895 of 6,825 known species threatened with extinction. 484 of these species are ‘critically endangered’ and 754 are ‘endangered’. 39 species of amphibian are either ‘extinct’ or ‘extinct in the wild’.

Commenting on the report, Jane Smart, Director of the IUCN Biodiversity Conservation Group said: The latest analysis… shows that the 2010 target to reduce biodiversity loss will not be met…It’s time for governments to start getting serious about saving species and make sure it’s high on their agendas for next year, as we are rapidly running out of time.”

Source: BBC News

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 9:54 am and is filed under 2010 Biodiversity Target, Amphibians, Extinction, IUCN. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.