20^th Eco-gen Ambassador Program- 2^nd Report May 2018

Introduction:

Austria is the natural habitat for a variety of beautiful animals, but many of them are on the endangered list.

The main reasons are loss of habitat because of urban sprawl and climate change.

Below are a few species that are in the endangered list in Austria. I am talking about different types of species- A bird, an insect, a fish, a land animal and a plant.

The Red Kite (Milvus milvus)

Status: Near Threatened.

About: The red kite is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers.

Problems and reasons: Red Kites were extinct in Austria in 1950 due to persecution, poisoning and woodland clearance. Fortunately, they recolonized in the 1970s and there were 10 pairs found in 1990. This species is listed as Near Threatened because it is experiencing a moderately rapid population decline, because of the threats listed above and changes in land-use amongst other threats.

The Hermit Beetle (Osmoderma eremita)

Status: Near Threatened.

About: The hermit beetle or Russian leather beetle, is a species of European beetle in the family Scarabaeidae.

Problems and reasons: The Hermit Beetle is threatened by extinction due to loss and fragmentation of its habitat (wooded pastures), during the last century. The beetle lives in the interior of older deciduous trees in Austria mostly in oaks, feeding on decaying wood. Preservation of old oaks and wooded pastures is thus a major concern considering the chances of hermit beetle survival in many areas of Austria.

The Europeean Eel (Anguilla anguilla)

Status: Critically Endangered.

About: The European eel is a species of eel, a snake-like, catadromous fish.

Problems and reasons: The European eel is a critically endangered species. Since the 1970s, the numbers of eels reaching Europe is thought to have declined by around 98%. Contributing factors include overfishing, parasites, barriers to migration such as hydroelectric dams, natural changes in the North Atlantic oscillation, Gulf Stream, and North Atlantic drift. Recent work suggests pollution of polychlorinated biphenyl which is a dangerous chlorine compound may be a factor in the decline. The fish is currently in the seafood Red List.

The Danube Crested Newt (Triturus dobrogicus)

Status: Near Threatened.

About: The Danube crested newt or Danube newt is a species of newt found in central and eastern Europe, along the basin of the Danube river which passes through Austria.

Problems and reasons: The population of the Danube crested newt has declined significantly, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as "near threatened". The main threat is habitat destruction by humans, especially through drainage, damming, or pollution. Hybridisation with other crested newt species and a loss of breeding ponds because of decreasing spring rain in the southern range possibly due to global warming, are also seen as threats. The capture, disturbance, killing, trade, and destruction of habitats of this species is prohibited.

The Nees' Hornwort (Anthoceros neesii)

Status: Endangered.

About: The Nees' Hornwort, is a species of hornwort in the Anthocerotaceae family. It was found in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland, however, its natural habitat is unknown; today it is only found growing in crop fields in Austria.

Problems and reasons: In 2000, this plant species was enlisted on the Red List. Today, its area of occupancy is less than 500 km, in only two localities in Austria and there has been an observed decline in habitat quality. It therefore meets the IUCN criteria for Endangered based on the small area, less than five localities, and the decline in habitat quality. Its habitat has undergone drastic changes due to changes in agricultural practices by humans.

Conclusion:

On the occasion of the conference of the United Nations on Environment and Development in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Austria, along with 156 other states, signed the Convention on Biological Diversity. Austria ratified the Convention in 1994.

A wide range of activity is taking place in Austria in the realm of conserving and sustainably using biological diversity. A number of institutions are involved in implementing the Convention due to divided jurisdictions and competences between Federal and Provincial authorities. In addition, research institutions, industry, non-governmental organizations and private persons are very active in this sector.

Continued consideration is being given to the Convention's call for cooperation with developing countries. In principle, no major shortcomings in implementing the Convention can currently be identified in Austria, although a wealth of opportunities exist to considerably improve this implementation.

The Convention also commits to formulating a national implementation strategy, which is currently in the discussion phase in Austria. This strategy will no doubt further increase the implementation efficiency and I'm sure that the government of Austria will take all steps necessary in the conservation of all endangered species.

References and Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danube_crested_newt

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_eel

http://www.ibg.uu.se/digitalAssets/164/c_164785-l_3-k_flygare-ellen-arbete.pdf

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39217/0

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22695072/0

https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/at/at-nr-01-en.pdf

I could not find a picture of the Nees' Hornwort that was labeled for reuse. To see a picture please refer to this link:

http://www.bryo.cz/index.php?p=mechorosty_foto&site=en&gallery=anthoceros_neesii&id=443

Other pictures are appended below