The Deep is delighted to have been awarded bronze in the education category of the BIAZA Annual Awards for a training programme delivered to Hull University 3rd year students in IUCN Red List assessments.
The Deep has been supporting species conservation and Red List assessments for four years, via its IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List Officer, working with the IUCN Species Survival Commission.
The IUCN Red List has been assessing the extinction threat faced by species around the world for over 50 years. It is the most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of the world’s species. Driving conservation actions towards threatened species and enabling conservationists to reduce or prevent extinctions.
The aim of the project was to deliver the unique IUCN Red List training programme to undergraduate university students, providing them with real-world conservation skills and experience.
Including such training as part of a degree programme was a novel approach, broadening student learning opportunities. The Deep has supported University of Hull student learning (undergraduate and postgraduate) for many years through project facilitation and mentoring. Offering students a Red Listing module was a natural progression to share the experience of Deep staff and diversify learning experiences.
Students spent time researching, analysing and writing Red List assessments for species in the UK. The results of the student’s assessments will be collated for potential inclusion in National Species Status Updates with Natural England. These species reports form a headline indicator for governmental biodiversity conservation under the 25 year environment plan published in 2019.
The impact of human activities and climate change on species and the planet are not going away, we need to secure a stable future for all. As such, collaboration in conservation is key. This award recognises the value and achievement of a successful conservation partnership right on our doorstep.
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For more information, please contact Zoe Montgomerie on 01482 381093 or email zoe@thedeep.co.uk