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ARKive. Robert Canning, Defra, UK. Introduction to ARKive. ARKive is a non-profit initiative of the Bristol-based Wildscreen Trust, an educational charity working to raise conservation awareness by encouraging excellence in wildlife film-making and related media.
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ARKive Robert Canning, Defra, UK
Introduction to ARKive • ARKive is a non-profit initiative of the Bristol-based Wildscreen Trust, an educational charity working to raise conservation awareness by encouraging excellence in wildlife film-making and related media. • ARKive provides an online digital library of film, photographs and audio recordings of endangered species. Described as a 21st Century Noah's Ark, ARKive is leading the virtual conservation effort. • An ongoing process, it offers a centralised source of material, preserved for future generations. • Accessible to all via the Internet.
Continued… • Ultimate aim is to compile an audio-visual record for the 11,000 animals and plants threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List. • In the short-term, ARKive is working on profiles of approx 500 globally endangered species and 750 British species by the end of 2003. • ARKive is designed so that anyone from school children to scientists can use it.
Coral ID Guide • Around 2000 coral species are listed on Appendix II of CITES and so international trade in these is regulated. Nearly 3000 coral species in total are CITES-listed. • The UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) funded the development of a coral identification guide as a separate ARKive species chapter. • The aim of the guide is to: assist customs officials around the world in identifying CITES-listed corals, and to inform members of the public of the need to conserve coral species and the restrictions on their trade.
And finally • The online coral ID guide was launched on 14 July this year and can be found at www.arkive.org • This project is a pilot with possible further development to help identify other CITES-listed species. • Any comments on the guide or suggestions for other taxa that would benefit from a similar guide should be sent to the contract manager, Phil Lewis (Defra): Phil.Lewis@defra.gsi.gov.uk tel: +44 (0)117 372 8032