As the world gears up for the next decade of conservation targets, the challenge facing the latest generation of conservationists is becoming rapidly apparent. Failure to achieve any of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets by 2020 has led researchers from around the world to call for more ambitious, yet measurable and realistic goals.
Preventing the extinction of Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species, via threat interventions and awareness raising campaigns, is one of the important ways in which we can avert further loss of biodiversity. We asked some of our EDGE Fellows what their thoughts are on the importance of conserving their EDGE species, and what they are doing to ensure their survival.
If your EDGE species went extinct, how would it impact your country?
María José – Nimble long-limbed salamander – Guatemala – c.2021-2023
“I believe not a lot of people know the species, but I think it would be loss for the diversity and also for the few people that do know if it may have cultural importance.”
John says that the turquoise dwarf gecko is a popular symbol for the Tanzanian forest that it lives in, so if it went extinct the forest would suffer a huge loss.
Oko – Siberian crane – Mongolia – c.2019-2021
“It’s like losing one of our valuable treasures. Right now, people are not aware of the important and significant of that species, so people don’t know what we’re losing, but it’s like losing a big treasure from the ecosystem and also the biodiversity of our country.”
Rajkumar – Galaxy frog – Kerala, India – c.2019-2021
“Since it’s an evolutionarily distinct species, we will lose their entire evolutionary history. People have started to know that we have beautifully coloured, very unique amphibians in our forests. When we lose it, we lose all that curiosity to understand these small amphibians. The conservation priority that we are getting will reduce. Also, the species will be playing a crucial role in the food web, so I think that it will be a great loss to the ecosystem, and ecosystem services we are getting for the local community and stakeholders. The effect made by extinction of this frog will take maybe years to see.”
Ayushi – Cantor’s giant softshell turtle – Kerala, India – c.2019-2021
“Being a very large turtle, it balances the aquatic ecosystem, so I think if all the softshell turtles were to go extinct, the river systems will collapse. Indian communities depend a lot directly on the river waters – for agriculture, for drinking water, for a lot of different activities in the day-to-day life. I think people don’t understand it because turtles are not directly benefiting them, but I think they’re integral part of the aquatic ecosystem that directly benefits human.”
Lili – Dwarf gecko – Colombia – c.2018-2020
“We can lose an important part of the natural history on earth. I think it if this species would disappear, it’s really sad. I don’t know how to express the feeling that that question makes me feel. Sometimes you have to recognize that many things don’t depend on you, even if you want. For example, administration can change everything about how to handle these natural areas in my country.”
Ali – Hirola – Kenya – Fellowship cohort 2011-2013
“This is the only place the hirola is found globally. So, it’d be not only a loss for us, but also for the world. You’re not losing just a species; we are losing an entire genus with all the evolutionary history. So, it’s a big deal. Witnessing extinction, or species that are on the edge, is a very painful process, especially when you are on the front line.”
What have you done to raise awareness about your species?
Ayushi – Cantor’s giant softshell turtle – Kerala, India – c.2019-2021
“The turtle is known locally as Bhimanama because of the size of turtle – Cantor’s giant softshell turtle can grow up to one meter and it’s very strong. Bhima is an Indian god and means ‘something which is very big’ in Malayalam language. He’s from the tale of Mahabharata, so he is considered to be very powerful and very strong and very huge – largely built. We got this local Indian cartoonist to make a mascot of this turtle Bhimanama which connected a lot of people from Hindu communities with Lord Bhima.”
María José wrote a children’s book about her EDGE species, the nimble long-limbed salamander, with her cousin. She believes that small changes will help in the building of bigger structural changes.
Oko – Siberian crane – Mongolia – c.2019-2021
“Where the Siberian cranes summer – it’s called Khentii province – we did a public awareness campaign during ‘crane festival’. I met so many kids and adults and provided some information like what I’m planning to do, and why Siberian cranes are important. I’m hoping that when I return this year, I’ll also give some information to high school students around that area. I’m looking forward to it.”
Lili – Dwarf gecko – c.2018-2020
“I am currently working with one foundation in Santa Marta called Jacana Jacana, and they work in environmental education with music. They created a song for our gecko! We started to show to the communities and to the people in Santa Marta our species in this way and it is working, I think. Everybody starts to recognize the importance of the gecko through these programs, and through this program it is easier to start to talk about the problems this species has, like deforestation – if this small gecko loses the natural cover, they can become extinct. We can’t find it in any other place in the world, even in Colombia.”
Ali and his team established World Hirola Day on August 12th and uses this opportunity to gather Kenyan communities and share the plight of the hirola. Creating an informed community and using science to guide conservation makes him very optimistic that this rare species will thrive once again.
What made you want to study this particular species?
María José – Nimble long-limbed salamander – Guatemala – c.2021-2023
“When I applied, we were in a group – two other herpetologists – and I saw Nyctanolis and I was like ‘I want to apply with this, because it is my favourite species of salamander from Guatemala. It is so beautiful!’ I actually did a little research from a part of one class with Nyctanolis and this would be the continuation of that work. I really like my EDGE species.”
John – Turquoise dwarf gecko – Tanzania – c.2020-2022
“This species was of interest to me because of its complexity. It has been traded a lot compared to other species and its uniqueness being found on only one plant species where at its habitat, there are a number of things which are also affecting the plant in which it lives. I thought it is very complicated, and I could learn a lot of things by dealing with the lizard. I thought by studying it, it could expose me to number of things which could also teach me some of the things which will benefit me in the future.”
Marina – Four EDGE frogs – Cameroon – c.2020-2022
“On my mountain there are more than 40 endemic species, and the mountain is even considered as the hotspot of herpetology, so it’s really important for us to protect all the endemic species on that mountain because if you protect the entire mountain, we will be sure to protect our EDGE species.”
As one of the rarest and most endangered birds in Mongolia, Oko was always interested in studying the Siberian crane.
If you could talk to your EDGE species, what would you tell it?
María José – Nimble long-limbed salamander – Guatemala – c.2021-2023
“I love you! *laughter*. No, I would say, ‘be patient, I will work hard to keep you safe’.”
John – Turquoise dwarf gecko – Tanzania – c.2020-2022
“I would like to assure them that although they face a lot of challenges with respect to their habitats, like fire outbreaks and being collected illegally, we are there now to save them. We are there to speak for them. I’m now there to make sure that all that happened in the past, probably will not keep on happening in the future.”
Marina – Four EDGE frogs – Cameroon – c.2020-2022
“*laughing* I would tell them ‘Ooh my lovely frogs, I’m there for you so you can be sure I will do my best to protect you’.”
Oko – Siberian crane – Mongolia – c.2019-2021
“I would just tell them ‘I love you!’ *laughter* Interesting question.”
Rajkumar – Galaxy frog – Kerala, India – c.2019-2021
“*laughter* If I’m in the field, if the Galaxy frog can call me, ‘I am here’, or something like that, that would be a great thing. I have to search the entire landscape. If the frog can give me some kind of information, then it will be really easy to understand their biology, ecology, and their needs, and what threats they face.”
If Ayushi could talk to the unique-looking Cantor’s giant softshell turtle, she would tell them “You’re not ugly, you’re amazing and we’re going to save you!”
Lili – Dwarf gecko – Colombia – c.2018-2020
“Oh, I love you *laughter*. If I can talk with it, maybe that I would like to be its voice, to represent it, and if it has some complaints, they can tell me, and I help them.”
Sandeep – Purple frog – Kerala, India – c.2017-2019
“I actually have a question for the purple frog! I would ask him or her what they are doing underground because we have all these years of research, and we only know what happens when they come above ground.”
Mica – Chacoan peccary – Argentina – c.2015-2017
“’You’re so cute!’ I will tell it to be patient and strong, and to run and hide because, for some reason, when hunters find the Chacoan peccary, it freezes.”
Kini – Hooded grebe – Argentina – c.2015-2017
“That they have to keep breeding! That’s a big problem, they won’t reproduce.”
Ali – Hirola – Kenya – Fellowship cohort 2011-2013
“I will tell them that we are behind you. We are here to support you. We’re here to protect your habitat and your landscape. I will tell them to hang on and believe in us.”