Climate Change and Biosecurity Risks

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List has led efforts to monitor and conserve populations of animals, plants, and fungi since 1964. However, recent research suggests the list is not effectively accounting for the consequences of rapid man-made climate change. The Korean Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus) is classified as vulnerable internationally, but in South Korea it is widely considered a pest, with the government offering bounties to cull what are considered high numbers. Both the IUCN’s classification and the Korean government’s approach to Korean Water Deer fail to consider the possibility of a rapid decline in numbers due to rapidly spreading biosecurity threats facilitated by rapid climate change. This paper describes the current status of Korean Water Deer, the biosecurity threats the population faces, and potential solutions to protect the population. This case study of Korean Water Deer will also add to evidence that the IUCN’s classification system is failing to accurately describe the potential for rapid collapse of mammal populations due to biosecurity threats facilitated by climate change.