Incorrect use of the IUCN Classification may lead to bad management decisions

The Case of the Trichechus manatus manatus in Suriname

Abstract

In the past few years as a result of increased explorations for oil, numerous reports have been written about environmental impacts. In all of these, the West Indian Manatee species occurring in Suriname was incorrectly identified and because of this, incorrectly classified as Vulnerable. In this brief I address the correct classification and show how incorrect classification could potentially lead to bad management decisions, and thus to its accelerated extinction in Suriname. The purpose of this brief is to ensure that this erroneous classification does not occur in future reports and publications, and that better management decisions will be made.