Developing the assessment of threats Sample Clauses

Developing the assessment of threats. A preliminary problem analysis, including the development of a preliminary problem tree should be compiled prior to the action-planning workshop by the Action Plan compiler. As described above under the AEWA action-planning process, this initial assessment should be based on current knowledge collected from literature, (possible) national questionnaires sent to the Range States as well as additional expert input where available. At the workshop, the identified problems should be validated, their impact should be assessed, and the causes of the most important problems should be defined using a participatory problem-tree analysis that will focus the Action Plan on tackling the main threats, as applicable. Common sense and best available information should guide the decision-making process when ranking threats. Ideally, threats should be ranked using a quantitative system describing the scope, severity and timing of the threat following the IUCN (Red Lists) Threats Classification Scheme. These assessments should be based on best available data and expert judgement. Ensuring that the ranking is consistent and correct in relative terms is the most important point. It should not be forgotten that threats often act in a synergistic way and may have a cumulative effect (e.g. mortality caused by by-catch and hunting might have a low impact on their own, but their cumulative impact may add up). The Plan should specifically highlight cases of cumulative impact. If gaps in knowledge are likely to affect the understanding of the impact of threats, these should be reflected as research actions and the results of the research should be incorporated when revisions of the Plan are made. A measure of the level of uncertainty involved with each threat should be indicated in its description.