The true conservation status of about one in every three Australian bird species remains uncertain, including 48 species already classified as threatened, according to a new study published in the journal Pacific Conservation Biology.
The investigation analysed the degree of certainty associated with the conservation risk assessments of Australian birds and concluded that the lack of information is particularly relevant among species classified as “Near Threatened”.
In this group, about two in every three species showed low levels of certainty regarding their true conservation status. The results show that the uncertainty is not limited to the more common or less worrisome species: it also exists among birds that are already recognised as being at risk of extinction.
Lack of data can hinder conservation
Conservation status assessments are used to identify species that require protection measures and to set priorities for research and conservation. When the available data are insufficient, it becomes harder to discern whether a population is stable, in decline, or facing a greater threat than currently recognised.
Researchers therefore argue that research efforts should be directed toward species whose assessments show the lowest levels of certainty.
The problem is particularly important in a country with a high diversity of birds where habitat changes, invasive species, climate change and other pressures can affect populations differently.
The study thus draws attention to a less visible issue in biodiversity conservation: not knowing exactly what the status of a species is can also pose an obstacle to its protection.
For the researchers, improving the available information on species with less secure assessments could allow earlier identification of declining populations and guide conservation resources more effectively.
