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| EDGE of Existence Programme | |
|---|---|
| Name | EDGE of Existence Programme |
| Type | Conservation initiative |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Zoological Society of London |
| Location | London, United Kingdom |
| Focus | Species conservation, biodiversity |
EDGE of Existence Programme
The EDGE of Existence Programme is a conservation initiative based at the Zoological Society of London that prioritizes species with high evolutionary distinctiveness and global endangerment, combining species assessments, field action, and public outreach. It integrates methods from IUCN Red List, Evolutionary biology, phylogenetics, and conservation biology to identify and support threatened taxa across mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and plants. The programme links taxonomy, field research, and policy via collaborations with institutions such as the Wildlife Conservation Society, Royal Society, Cambridge University, and WWF.
The programme ranks species using the EDGE metric, integrating evolutionary distinctiveness scores derived from phylogenetic trees and threat status from the IUCN Red List; its lists include mammals like the Aye-aye, amphibians like the Chinese giant salamander, reptiles like the Kakapo (note: kakapo is a bird—see examples), and plants such as the Wollemi pine. It produces regional and taxon-specific priorities used by conservation bodies including the Convention on Biological Diversity, United Nations Environment Programme, and national agencies like Natural England and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The programme's outputs feed into academic work at institutions like Oxford University, Imperial College London, and the Smithsonian Institution.
Launched in 2007 by the Zoological Society of London and funded initially through grants and partners including Arcadia Fund, Marisla Foundation, and legacy support from organisations like RSPB, the programme built on earlier initiatives from the IUCN and World Conservation Union frameworks. Early methodology drew on concepts from researchers such as Isaac Newton (historical phylogenetic principles), contemporary systematists at University of Cambridge, and modelling approaches developed at University of California, Berkeley and Harvard University. Growth phases included expanded taxonomic coverage during collaborations with the Linnean Society, data sharing with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, and public engagement campaigns coordinated with BBC Natural History Unit.
Primary objectives include identifying species that combine high evolutionary distinctiveness with high extinction risk, mobilising conservation action, and building local capacity through field projects in biodiversity hotspots such as the Madagascar dry forests, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Eastern Himalaya. The EDGE metric synthesises inputs from the IUCN Red List, published phylogenies from researchers at Max Planck Institute for Ornithology and California Academy of Sciences, and geographic data from BirdLife International and the World Resources Institute. Selection criteria emphasise endangerment categories like Critically Endangered and Endangered as defined by the IUCN Red List and evolutionary measures informed by molecular studies from labs at University College London and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
Field projects have targeted species such as the Vietnamese pheasant (example taxa), the Bawean deer, the Javan rhino, and lesser-known amphibians in collaboration with NGOs like Fauna & Flora International, Conservation International, and national parks such as Serengeti National Park and Komodo National Park. Activities include capacity building with local universities like Universitas Gadjah Mada, community-based conservation with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, anti-poaching efforts modelled with guidance from TRAFFIC, and habitat restoration aligned with initiatives by UNESCO World Heritage Centre in designated sites. The programme also runs captive-breeding advisory roles echoing protocols from institutions like the Zoological Society of London and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.
EDGE has catalysed peer-reviewed studies in journals associated with the Royal Society, Nature Publishing Group, and PLOS by generating datasets used in phylogenetic analyses by teams at Imperial College London, University of California, Davis, and the Natural History Museum, London. Contributions include refined phylogenies for mammals influenced by work at Monash University and amphibian assessments influenced by researchers at University of Michigan. The programme has contributed to conservation genetics, population viability analyses employed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and priority-setting frameworks referenced in policy documents from the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
Major partners and funders have included foundations such as the Arcadia Fund, institutions like the Zoological Society of London and Cambridge Conservation Initiative, NGOs including WWF, Fauna & Flora International, and governmental bodies such as the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and agencies like DFID in collaborative projects. Academic partnerships extend to Oxford University, University College London, and the Smithsonian Institution, while implementation partners include local NGOs and protected area authorities like Madagascar National Parks and Peruvian National Service of Natural Protected Areas.
The programme has been credited with raising the profile and funding for narrowly distributed taxa, achieving field successes comparable to targeted campaigns by BirdLife International and Conservation International, and influencing policy at forums such as the Convention on Biological Diversity meetings. Notable successes include targeted actions leading to improved protection for species in Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and island ecosystems highlighted by the IUCN and researchers at University of Cambridge. Criticisms have focused on reliance on phylogenetic metrics debated by academics at University of Zurich and University of Oxford, potential biases in prioritisation discussed in literature from Conservation Letters and Biological Conservation, and challenges in scaling local projects akin to critiques leveled at initiatives like Debt-for-nature swaps. Ongoing evaluations involve stakeholders from IUCN, donor foundations, and conservation scientists at Royal Society-affiliated institutions.
Category:Conservation organizations