A new study reveals critical gaps in stork research; calls for scrutiny of the IUCN Red List data

Subject : Environment

Section: Biodiversity

Context:

A new study examining research on storks worldwide uncovered biases in species coverage and geographical focus, with more focus on Europe and North America as compared to Asia and Africa.

Details:

Study authors find several gaps in the IUCN Red List classification process, including a lack of knowledge on habitat changes and anthropogenic pressures, inaccurate population counts and so on.
While all 20 stork species are included in the IUCN Red List, an analysis of studies published between 1950 and 2022 revealed a concentration of research on only three.
Research in Asia shows that storks are not limited to protected areas and are increasingly utilising farmlands and semi-urban areas. However, colonial presumptions about ideal bird habitats hinder research in anthropogenic landscapes.

Geographical and species unevenness:

Agricultural and unprotected landscapes are largely ignored by researchers in Africa, as there is a preference for conducting research in national parks, where abundant wildlife and picturesque environments are found.
The majority of the stork population exists outside the protected areas, so there is limited knowledge about this significant portion of the country’s stork population.
The IUCN generally relies on robust processes, population metrics, regional variations and habitat relationships to classify species. However, in the case of storks, the rules and processes defining the IUCN’s approach to classifying species’ status are not being followed.

IUCN Red List for birds:

The IUCN Red List for birds is compiled and managed by BirdLife International, which analyses data from published reports to categorise more than 10,000 species of land birds, migratory birds, seabirds and waterbirds into critically endangered (CR), endangered (EN), vulnerable (VU), near threatened (NT), least concern (LC), and data deficient (DD).
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is BirdLife International’s partner organisation for data on Indian birds.
The Red List is updated annually after high-quality population assessments and population trend data is compiled and analysed by IUCN Red List to determine the appropriate categorisation for each species.

Why IUCN Red List data needs to be strengthened:

IUCN Red List is a crucial metric that guides conservationists, governments, as well as donor organisations.
It would help in finding some questions like:
- Why do agricultural fields in India provide more favourable conditions for storks compared to those in the U.S. or U.K.?
This could help allocate funds to species that actually need the aid.
Better management of the population of these birds.

About Stork:

Scientific Name: Leptoptilosdubius
Genus:
- The greater adjutant is a member of the stork family, Ciconiidae.
- There are about 20 species in the family.
- They are long-necked large birds.
Habitat:
- Once found across South and Southeast Asia, the Greater Adjutant is one of the most threatened stork species in the world.
- There are only three known breeding grounds – one in Cambodia and two in India (Assam and Bihar).
Threat:
- The widespread destruction and degradation of the wetlands that this scavenger bird needs to forage (i.e. search for food) and the loss of its nesting trees, led to a decline.
Protection Status:
- IUCN Red List: Endangered
- Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule IV
Significance:
- Religious Icon:
  - They are considered the mount of Vishnu, one of Hinduism’s prime deities.
  - Some worship the bird and call it “Garuda Maharaj” (Lord Garuda) or “Guru Garuda” (Great Teacher Garuda).
- Helpful for Farmers:
  - They help farmers by killing rats and other farm pests.