BICREF would like to stress the importance of Biodiversity conservation research and action in the Maltese Islands. This is a local, regional and global requirement that comes out especially from the latest IUCN Red list of threatened species 2006 that has just come out this month.

IUCN - The World Conservation Union, through its Species Survival Commission (SSC) has for more than four decades been assessing the conservation status of species, subspecies, varieties and even selected subpopulations on a global scale in order to highlight taxa threatened with extinction, and therefore promote their conservation.

The Red List provides taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information on taxa that have been globally evaluated using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. This system is designed to determine the relative risk of extinction, and the main purpose of the IUCN Red List is to catalogue and highlight those taxa that are facing a higher risk of global extinction (i.e. those listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable).

Since Rio's Global Summit in 1992 governments were urged to support and encourage research and action for biodiversity conservation, however locally funds for detailed and scientific research are still very limited.

The release of the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species reveals ongoing decline of the status of plants and animals. The number of known threatened species world wide reaches 16,119. The ranks of those facing extinction are joined by familiar species like the polar bear, hippopotamus and desert gazelles; together with freshwater fish and ocean sharks.

In the Mediterranean common dolphins and turtles are found to be endangered, side by side with many other marine endemic species. Terrestrial habitats and species in the Mediterranean are also under threat in particular on islands and fragmented sites with the higher impacts already felt on flowering plants.

BICREF member undertaking marine survey around the Maltese Islands	Loggerhead Turtle in our sea

BICREF has been working toward promoting local conservation research and action. In particular it has pushed forward research and awareness on species that are vulnerable, such as local sharks and rays, turtles, dolphins and whales, and coastal biodiversity that are integral and important part of our marine and natural resources deserving our high consideration, through monitoring, enforcement and appropriate management.

BICREF understands that side by side with well known and studied species there are thousands that still have not been considered and thus their condition is still unknown. This lack of knowledge should not translate to lack of consideration in our strive toward sustainable development, the 2010 biodiversity conservation target and our responsibility toward securing natural resources and life for generations to come.

BICREF will this year again endeavor on training courses and conservation research project for its members on various habitats and species and thus any one interested in joining may do so by emailing: bicref@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.bicref.org