Today, 221 endemic species in Jamaica are considered vulnerable to extinction. In this presentation, we have selected one: the Jamaican boa, which is our ecological indicator. In our presentation we will explore how the impacts of climate change, such as sea-level rise, flooding and deforestation affect the Jamaican boa, and more generally, alter the insular state. Faced with these emergencies, we will also present the DPSIR figure with the solutions envisaged by the country and how they are linked to the three sustainable development goals (SDGs 9,11,13) we have selected for Jamaica.

Studying endangered species is vital in understanding the state of ecosystems and socio-ecological dynamics. Via a DPSIR (Drivers, Pressures, States, Impacts, Responses) analysis, we explored the state of the critically endangered Piliocolobus Epieni, or the Niger Delta Red Colobus. The main pressure on the species is habitat loss, and the driver of this pressure is human development. Pressures have resulted in habitat fragmentation, biodiversity loss, and human health implications. However, the species is still in decline. In response, the community in the area is supporting conservation and regulations, and more research is being conducted.

Our presentation will focus on the endangered species Prunus lusitanica subsp. azorica which is found in the Azores region of Portugal. The plant is severely threatened in this area by habitat loss and fragmentation that is caused by extreme forest fires in the area as well as the logging and timber industry. It would be a devastating loss of a native species as well have effects on the other native animals that rely on this plant.

The Nubian Ibex is native to the North Western corner of Africa stretching into the Arabian Peninsula and is listed as a ‘Vulnerable’ species on the IUCN Red List. Utilizing the DPSIR framework, the Nubian Ibex can be protected and allowed to regrow in a way that not only benefits the animal itself, but also the health of other species that coexist alongside the ibex. Large-scale conservation efforts are imperative for maintaining human-environment relationships in order to ensure sustainable use of all ecosystem goods and services, and important animals like the Ibex serve as indicators of sustainability and environmental health.