Motion 088

Genetic diversity, DNA variation among individuals of the same species, is vital for population and species persistence, ecosystem diversity and stability, and the resilience of nature and societies in the face of pressures such as climate change. Conserving genetic diversity also delivers cultural and economic benefits, sustainable resource use, stable food supply, and mitigation of extreme events. Decades of genetic diversity research have demonstrated that genetic diversity is declining, and these declines will accelerate unless addressed. The importance of tracking and managing genetic diversity is increasingly recognized, yet the systematic assessment of genetic diversity in species and ecosystem management and protection has received little attention, partly due to lack of a standardized framework to assess genetic risk and quantify change (ref 1).

Advances have been made in recent decades, with several genetic indicators and Essential Biodiversity Variables developed to report on the status of genetic diversity within and between species’ populations, to assess whether all genetically distinct populations are maintained and large enough to persist into the future (refs 2, 3). Some indicators can be quantified from diverse sources of data, and do not require expensive DNA-based knowledge, the assessment of genetic diversity is more accessible (ref 4). This greatly facilitated the inclusion of genetic diversity in Goal A and Target 4 of the GBF. Additionally, genetic diversity has been identified as a vital component to meet several other GBF targets, including Targets 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 13 (ref 4).

And yet there is not a global standard for genetic diversity assessment to help ensure the protection of all levels of diversity. As global leaders in biodiversity conservation, the proponent and co-sponsors of this motion strongly believe the IUCN is best placed, now, to take strong steps to address this gap. Thousands of genetic research studies, as well as non-DNA based data from other monitoring, including in IUCN as well as national databases, can help assess genetic threats and status (ref 5). A particular concern is species classified as non-threatened losing genetic diversity, which compromises their long term future (refs 5-8). A framework for standardized assessment of genetic diversity will capture this critical conservation information that would otherwise go undetected and unaddressed.

References:
1. Laikre L. 2010. Conservation Genetics 11:349–354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-009-0037-4
2. Hoban S et al. 2021. BioScience 71:964–976. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biab054
3. Hoban S et al. 2022. Biological Reviews 97: 1511–1538. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12852
4. Hoban S et al. 2024. Conservation Genetics 25:1147–1153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-024-01632-8
5. Thurfjell H et al. 2022. Ecological Indicators 142:109167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109167
6. Willoughby JR et al. 2015. Biological Conservation 191:495–503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2015.07.025
7. Schmidt C. et al. 2023. Conservation macrogenetics: harnessing genetic data to meet conservation commitments. Trends in Genetics 39:816-829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tig.2023.08.002
8. Mastretta-Yanes A et al. 2024. Ecology Letters 27:e14461. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.14461

Additional resources:
https://www.coalitionforconservationgenetics.org/resources