The world’s sharks and rays have been steadily decreasing in their populations since 2014 and more species are getting closer to extinction, according to a new red list.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) also said the Komodo dragon is now listed as endangered, because of rising sea levels and rising temperatures in their habitat at Komodo Island, Indonesia.

But the progress in reviving tuna populations and some other species “is the demonstration that if states and other actors take the right actions … it is possible to recover”, IUCN director Bruno Oberle told reporters in Marseille.

There are signs of hope – fishing quotas have seen several tuna species in the “path to recovery”, the IUCN said.

Around 37% of the world’s sharks and rays are considered endangered as of 2021, up from 33% since 2014, the IUCN announced.

Several recent studies, including the IPCC report last month, confirm that human is the reason of climate change and have shown that many of the planet’s ecosystems are severely impacted by global warming, deforestation, pollution, and other threats.

Conservation International Vice-Chair and actor Harrison Ford delivered his plea to protect biodiversity at the opening of the World Conservation Congress in Marseille on Friday.

“It’s hard to watch the rise of nationalism in the face of a global threat that requires global cooperation, global action,” Ford said.

“It’s hard to read the headlines – floods, fires, famines, plagues – and tell your children that everything is all right.

“It’s not all right. Damn it, it’s not all right.

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“C’mon everybody,” he said. “Let’s get to work.”

The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2020 is held from 3 to 11 September 2021 in Marseille.

The event, originally scheduled for June last year, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This conference precedes the UN’s global climate summit, the Cop26, which will be held in November in Glasgow, Scotland.

International Mathematical Union

The International Mathematical Union is an international non-governmental organization devoted to international cooperation in the field of mathematics across the world. (wikipedia)


International Telecommunication Union

The International Telecommunication Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for all matters related to information and communication technologies. (wikipedia)


Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford is an American actor. As of 2020, the U.S. domestic box office grosses of his films total over $5.4 billion, with worldwide grosses surpassing $9.3 billion, placing him at No. (wikipedia)

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Emmanuel Macron

Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron is a French politician who has been serving as the president of France since 14 May 2017. Born in Amiens, Macron studied philosophy at Paris Nanterre University, (wikipedia)


The world’s 100 most threatened species

The World’s 100 most threatened species is a compilation of the most threatened animals, plants, and fungi in the world. It was the result of a collaboration between over 8, (wikipedia)


International Union for Conservation of Nature

The International Union for Conservation of Nature is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. (wikipedia)


Bruno Oberle

Bruno Oberle is a Swiss biologist and environmental scientist. On 13 July 2020 he was appointed Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. (wikipedia)


Associated Press

The Associated Press is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. Its members are U.S. (wikipedia)


IUCN Red List

The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1964, (wikipedia)