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Español BirdLife International uses its Globally Threatened Bird Forums to update the Red List for birds on behalf of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). In preparation for the 2017 update, BirdLife has invited participation in the forum process to discuss proposed revisions to the global threat status (IUCN Red List category of extinction risk) for selected species.
Three ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels have been included in the Threatened Seabird Forum for consideration in the June round with details regarding the proposed changes:
Antipodean Albatross Diomedea antipodensis: proposed for up-listing to Endangered from Vulnerable.
Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris: proposed for down-listing from Near Threatened to Least Concern.
Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica: currently Vulnerable; request for information following Tropical Storm Ita causing damage to the species’ sole breeding site in 2014.
Antipodes Albatross (subspecies gibsoni) on Adams Island, Auckland Islands, photograph by Colin O'Donnell
“The initial deadline for contributions is 17 July 2017, when we will assess the contributions made. We will then post up a draft list of preliminary proposals and there will be two more weeks to comment further before final recommendations to IUCN are collated. The new and revised species assessments and updated factsheets will be published on the BirdLife website and incorporated into the 2017 IUCN Red List, currently scheduled for release in late November.”
In November last year BirdLife International called for comment on up-listing the Shy Albatross Thalassarche cauta from Near Threatened to Vulnerable and the Amsterdam Albatross D. amsterdamensis being down-listed from Critically Endangered to Endangered. These two calls remain open for comment.
Click here for information on how to submit comments on any of the five ACAP-listed species.
With thanks to Ross Wanless.
John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 09 June 2017