Protection and preserving of biodiversity
of Earth has become one of the most important global problems of
mankind. In the course of millions years nature worked out very complicated
biological system, where every living organism, even very little
one, plays it's own role. Disappearance of one section in chain damages
the stability of the whole system. Once disappeared, species can't
be restored as evolution is irreversible. That's why man should pay
special attention to species in danger of extinction. Protection
of such species means that their number will increase and function
in ecosystem will be restored. All that is very important for preserving
of biodiversity on the whole.
Destiny of rare species worried people long ago, but the problem
became really serious in the middle of 20th century. Council on Nature and Natural
Recourses was founded I 1948. It united state, scientific and public organizations
on nature protection of many countries. In 1949 it decided to organize a Species
Survival Commission. The main purpose of this Commission was researching of rare
animals and plants and preparation of recommendations on their protection. The
great work was done in this direction. Scientists defined the species in danger
of extinction and put them in a list. A special heading was needed for this list,
something to underline it's importance. And it was found. The Chairperson of
Commission, Sir Peter Scott suggested to call it 'Red Data Book' as word 'red'
means danger. The first edition of book was released in 1963 including information
about 211 species of mammals and 312 of birds. Species in book are divided into
5 types:
- disappearing
- rare
- declining in
number
- unstudied
- rehabilitated
The second edition appeared
in 1966-1971. It had 236 species of mammals, 287 of birds,
119 of reptiles and 34 of amphibians. In 1972 'Black List'
of disappeared species was published.
The number of this accounts about 175 species beginning from
1600. The releasing of third edition of 'Red
Book' began in 1972, and forth appeared
in 1978-1980. the work on content of 'Red Book' is going on
and seems never to stop as more and more species
become in danger of extinction nowadays
due to man activity. 'Red Data Book' is not a jurisdiction
document, but every country, where the endangered
species are found has the moral responsibility
for protection before the whole world. Also separate 'Red Lists
of Threatened' animals were
published in 1988, 1990, 1994, 1996,
and 1998. They are not the variants of Red Book, but very close
in essence. Species here are subdivided into
two large categories:
1. In danger of extinction
:
- in critical condition
- threatened
- vulnerable
2.Low risk:
- depended on protection
measures
- are likely to be replaced
to a group of threatened
- of minimal risk
There
are two more categories in lists which don't relate directly
to protection:
The prominent
scientist A.G. Bannikov wrote: ' We don't know about all the species
in the
world…it would
be a great mistake to let a species die only because
we don't
know
about it's usefulness at the moment.' And we think,
he was right.
For information
about Red Data Book we consulted a book Blagosklonov K.N. Rasskaz o
Krasnoy Knige. – M. Phizkultura
i sport, 1984
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