Delays to the global plastic treaty and a failure to mobilise the resources to reverse biodiversity loss are among the pain points felt by conservationists at the international nature charity, Fauna & Flora whose annual ‘species to watch’ list comes, this year, with a stark warning to address nature loss now or risk ecosystem collapse in the near future.

Providing insight into some of the most highly threatened species on the planet – a list this year that includes the whale shark, Antillean manatee, the mountain chicken, and a chameleon the size of a paper clip – the charity has voiced its “deep frustration” at the lack of haste in addressing the “urgent and critical” biodiversity crisis.

Ten new species have been added to the charity’s ‘watch list’ this year which acts to highlight both the flora and fauna now found “teetering on the brink of extinction” alongside the measures being taken by the charity and its global partners to rescue them.

 “The nature loss crisis has never been more urgent or critical to address, with countless species at risk of extinction across the globe – threatening the very ecosystems people rely on for food, water and livelihoods. And yet, 2024 ended with significant setbacks for nature and the environment,” said Kristian Teleki, CEO of Fauna & Flora. 

He continued: “Delays to the Global Plastics Treaty and a failure to mobilise resources at COP16, the world’s biggest nature conference, left many, including myself, feeling exasperated. These forums are essential for delivering global solutions to global problems, including addressing the critical question of who pays for action. Yet, we are still not moving fast enough to tackle the interconnected planetary crises that affect us all. 

“Despite these frustrations, there are glimmers of progress and hope. Last year brought breakthroughs in aligning Nature and Climate COP processes and formalising the vital roles of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in conservation policy and decision-making. In times of crisis, it’s essential to hold onto hope – recognising that locally driven, partnership-focused conservation efforts are not just effective but necessary.”

Together with their global network of partners, Flora & Fauna are therefore working to protect a “wide range of species teetering on the brink of extinction”. 

One of the marine species listed on Fauna & Flora’s list this year is the Antillean manatee whose habitat is threatened by homes, crops, livestock and businesses that are encroaching on the riverbank, depleting mangrove forest and contributing to murky, contaminated water. To further protect the species, Fauna & Flora is supporting their Honduran partner FUCSA to establish a recovery plan for manatees and their habitat.

Another marine species on the list this year is the largest fish in the world, the whale shark. According to Flora & Fauna, whale sharks face numerous threats including targeted fishing, accidental entanglement in nets, boat collisions, tourist disturbance, and an overheating ocean. At coastal project sites in Myanmar, Honduras and São Tomé and Príncipe, Fauna & Flora and its local partners are engaging with communities and policymakers to promote behaviour change and improve protection measures for these endangered gentle giants and other threatened sharks.

Other species on the watch list include the European mink, one of the continent’s most critically endangered mammals; the grey-shanked douc langur, one of the world’s rarest primates; the steppe tortoise; the Nguru spiny pygmy chameleon which isn’t much larger than a paper clip; the great hornbill; the African wild dog; the new magnolia, a newly discovered magnolia species; and the mountain chicken, one of the world’s largest and rarest frogs. 

Once found on at least five Caribbean islands, the mountain chicken is now confined to Dominica – where it once had the misfortune to be the unofficial national dish – and to a small, enclosed area on nearby Montserrat. Here, Fauna & Flora’s local partner WildDominique is spearheading an ambitious rescue plan to save the species from extinction, which will involve: the establishment of a protected area for the mountain chicken in Dominica; developing a semi-wild enclosure for safeguarding, breeding, and eventual reintroduction of the frogs; and creating a disaster preparedness plan to protect the species from hurricanes and volcanic eruptions – to name but a few initiatives.

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