IUCN Red List explained

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Formation:1964
Headquarters:Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
Region Served:International
Language:English
Parent Organization:International Union for Conservation of Nature
Affiliations:Species Survival Commission, Birdlife International, Conservation International, NatureServe, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Texas A&M University, Sapienza University of Rome, Zoological Society of London, Wildscreen

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book, founded in 1964, is an inventory of the global conservation status and extinction risk of biological species.[1] A series of Regional Red Lists, which assess the risk of extinction to species within a political management unit, are also produced by countries and organizations.

The goals of the Red List are to provide scientifically based information on the status of species and subspecies at a global level, to draw attention to the magnitude and importance of threatened biodiversity, to influence national and international policy and decision-making, and to provide information to guide actions to conserve biological diversity.[2]

Major species assessors include BirdLife International, the Institute of Zoology (the research division of the Zoological Society of London), the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, and many Specialist Groups within the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC). Collectively, assessments by these organizations and groups account for nearly half the species on the Red List.

The IUCN aims to have the category of every species re-evaluated at least every ten years, and every five years if possible. This is done in a peer reviewed manner through IUCN Species Survival Commission Specialist Groups (SSC), which are Red List Authorities (RLA) responsible for a species, group of species or specific geographic area, or in the case of BirdLife International, an entire class (Aves). The red list unit works with staff from the IUCN Global Species Programme as well as current program partners to recommend new partners or networks to join as new Red List Authorities.[3]

The number of species which have been assessed for the Red List has been increasing over time.[4] of 150,388 species surveyed, 42,108 are considered at risk of extinction because of human activity, in particular overfishing, hunting, and land development.[5] [6]

History

The idea for a Red Data Book was suggested by Peter Scott in 1963.[7]

1966–1977 Red Data Lists

Initially the Red Data Lists were designed for specialists and were issued in a loose-leaf format that could be easily changed.

The first two volumes of Red Lists were published in 1966 by conservationist Noel Simon, one for mammals and one for birds.[8] [9]

The third volume that appeared covered reptiles and amphibians. It was created by René E. Honegger in 1968.[10]

In 1970, the IUCN published its fifth volume in this series. This was the first Red Data List which focused on plants (angiosperms only), compiled by Ronald Melville.[11]

The final volume of Red Data List created in the older, loose leaf style was volume 4 on freshwater fishes. This was published in 1979 by Robert Rush Miller.[12]

1969 Red Data Book

The first attempt to create a Red Data Book for a nonspecialist public came in 1969 with The Red Book: Wildlife in Danger.[13] This book covered varies groups but was predominantly about mammals and birds, with smaller sections on reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and plants.

2006 release

The 2006 Red List, released on 4 May 2006 evaluated 40,168 species as a whole, plus an additional 2,160 subspecies, varieties, aquatic stocks, and subpopulations.[14]

2007 release

On 12 September 2007, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) released the 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In this release, they have raised their classification of both the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and the Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) from endangered to critically endangered, which is the last category before extinct in the wild, due to Ebola virus and poaching, along with other factors. Russ Mittermeier, chief of Swiss-based IUCN's Primate Specialist Group, stated that 16,306 species are endangered with extinction, 188 more than in 2006 (total of 41,415 species on the Red List). The Red List includes the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) in the Critically Endangered category and the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) in the Endangered category.[15]

2008 release

The 2008 Red List was released on 6 October 2008 at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Barcelona and "confirmed an extinction crisis, with almost one in four [mammals] at risk of disappearing forever". The study shows at least 1,141 of the 5,487 mammals on Earth are known to be threatened with extinction, and 836 are listed as Data Deficient.[16]

2012 release

The Red List of 2012 was released 19 July 2012 at Rio+20 Earth Summit;[17] nearly 2,000 species were added,[18] with 4 species to the extinct list, 2 to the rediscovered list.[19] The IUCN assessed a total of 63,837 species which revealed 19,817 are threatened with extinction.[20] 3,947 were described as "critically endangered" and 5,766 as "endangered", while more than 10,000 species are listed as "vulnerable".[21] At threat are 41% of amphibian species, 33% of reef-building corals, 30% of conifers, 25% of mammals, and 13% of birds.[20] The IUCN Red List has listed 132 species of plants and animals from India as "Critically Endangered".[22]

Categories

Species are classified by the IUCN Red List into nine groups, specified through criteria such as rate of decline, population size, area of geographic distribution, and degree of population and distribution fragmentation.[23] There is an emphasis on the acceptability of applying any criteria in the absence of high quality data including suspicion and potential future threats, "so long as these can reasonably be supported".[24]

In the IUCN Red List, "threatened" embraces the categories of Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable.

1994 categories and 2001 framework

The older 1994 list has only a single "Lower Risk" category which contained three subcategories:

In the 2001 framework, Near Threatened and Least Concern became their own categories, while Conservation Dependent was removed and its contents merged into Near Threatened.

Possibly extinct

The tag of "possibly extinct" (PE)[25] is used by Birdlife International, the Red List Authority for birds for the IUCN Red List.[26] BirdLife International has recommended PE become an official tag for Critically Endangered species, and this has now been adopted, along with a "Possibly Extinct in the Wild" tag for species with populations surviving in captivity but likely to be extinct in the wild.[27]

Versions

There have been a number of versions, dating from 1991, including:[28] [29]

All new IUCN assessments since 2001 have used version 3.1 of the categories and criteria.

Criticism

In 1997, the IUCN Red List received criticism on the grounds of secrecy (or at least poor documentation) surrounding the sources of its data.[30] These allegations have led to efforts by the IUCN to improve its documentation and data quality, and to include peer reviews of taxa on the Red List.[23] The list is also open to petitions against its classifications, on the basis of documentation or criteria.[31]

In the November 2002 issue of Trends in Ecology & Evolution, an article suggested that the IUCN Red List and similar works are prone to misuse by governments and other groups that draw possibly inappropriate conclusions on the state of the environment or to affect exploitation of natural resources.[32]

In the November 2016 issue of Science Advances, a research article claims there are serious inconsistencies in the way species are classified by the IUCN. The researchers contend that the IUCN's process of categorization is "out-dated, and leaves room for improvement", and further emphasize the importance of readily available and easy-to-include geospatial data, such as satellite and aerial imaging. Their conclusion questioned not only the IUCN's method but also the validity of where certain species fall on the List. They believe that combining geographical data can significantly increase the number of species that need to be reclassified to a higher risk category.[33]

See also

General and cited references

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Background & History. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 19 May 2021.
  2. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), Joint Meeting of the Animals and Plants Committees, Shepherdstown (United States of America), 7–9 December 2000, Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  3. Web site: Overview of The IUCN Red List . IUCN Red List . . 20 June 2012 . 30 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140630010436/http://www.iucnredlist.org/about/overview#redlist_authorities.
  4. Lovejoy. Thomas E. . Thomas Lovejoy. 8 August 2017. Extinction tsunami can be avoided. PNAS. 114. 32. 8840–8841 . 10.1073/pnas.1711074114. 5559057. 28747527. 2017PNAS..114.8440L . free.
  5. Web site: Threatened species on the IUCN Red List . IUCN Red List . 21 July 2023.
  6. Almost 30,000 Species Face Extinction Because of Human Activity. Aguilera. Jasmine . 18 July 2019 . Time. 20 July 2019. live. 19 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190719063058/https://time.com/5629548/almost-30000-species-face-extinction-new-report/.
  7. Book: The Road to Extinction: Problems of Categorizing the Status of Taxa Threatened with Extinction . International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources . 1987 . 2880329299 . Fitter . Richard . Gland . Fitter . Maisie.
  8. Book: Simon, Noel . Red Data Book. Volume 1. Mammalia, a compilation . International Union for the Conservation of Nature . 1966.
  9. Book: Simon, Noel . Red Data Book. Volume 2. Aves . International Union for the Conservation of Nature . 1966.
  10. Book: Honegger, René . Red Data Book. Volume 3. Amphibia & Reptilia . International Union for the Conservation of Nature . 1968.
  11. Book: Melville, Ronald . Red Data Book. Volume 5. Angiospermae, a compilation . International Union for the Conservation of Nature . 1970.
  12. Book: Miller, Robert . Red Data Book. Volume 4. Pisces: freshwater fishes . International Union for the Conservation of Nature . 1979.
  13. Book: Fisher . James . The Red Book: Wildlife in Danger . Simon . Noel . Vincent . Jack . Collins . 1969.
  14. Book: IUCN . Release of the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species reveals ongoing decline of the status of plants and animals . 2006 . IUCN News Release.
  15. Extinction crisis escalates: Red List shows apes, corals, vultures, dolphins all in danger. 25 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20110124083212/http://www.iucn.org/media/materials/releases/?81%2FExtinction-crisis-escalates-Red-List-shows-apes-corals-vultures-dolphins-all-in-danger. 24 January 2011. live. 12 September 2007. IUCN.
  16. IUCN Red List reveals world's mammals in crisis. 6 October 2008. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20081009175431/http://iucn.org/about/work/programmes/species/red_list/index.cfm?uNewsID=1695. 9 October 2008. 9 October 2008. IUCN.
  17. News: Extinction threat 'a call to world leaders' at Rio Earth Summit. Matthew Knight. 19 June 2012. CNN . 13 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20120622011512/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/19/world/rio-red-list-extinction-species/index.html. 22 June 2012. live.
  18. Web site: IUCN Red List update: Nearly 2,000 species added. Jessica Phelan. www.pri.org. 19 June 2012. 13 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181116221334/https://www.pri.org/stories/2012-06-19/iucn-red-list-update-nearly-2000-species-added. 16 November 2018. live.
  19. Web site: IUCN 2012 update – 4 species extinct – 2 rediscovered – Food security waning. wildlifeextra.com. 19 June 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042748/http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/iucn-2012.html. 4 March 2016. 14 November 2018.
  20. News: The Red List Of Threatened Species, Annual Report Released. James Ayre. planetsave.com. 20 June 2012. 13 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20131110212702/http://planetsave.com/2012/06/20/the-red-list-of-threatened-species-annual-report-released-video/. 10 November 2013. live.
  21. The list is queryable at: Web site: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 6 March 2020.
  22. News: Red list has 132 species of plants, animals from India. K.S. Sudhi. 21 June 2012. thehindu.com. 13 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20120624201524/http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article3551664.ece?homepage=true. 24 June 2012. live.
  23. Mace . Georgina M. . Collar . Nigel J. . Gaston . Kevin J. . Hilton-Taylor . Craig . Akçakaya . H. Resit . Leader-Williams . Nigel . Milner-Gulland . E.J. . Stuart . Simon N. . December 2008 . Quantification of Extinction Risk: IUCN's System for Classifying Threatened Species . Conservation Biology . en . 22 . 6 . 1424–1442 . 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.01044.x. 18847444 . 2008ConBi..22.1424M . 37234648 . free .
  24. Web site: IUCN RED LIST CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA Version 3.1 Second edition. 2012 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. 2012. 28 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190301074755/https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/RL-2001-001-2nd.pdf. 1 March 2019. live.
  25. Going or gone: defining 'Possibly Extinct' species to give a truer picture of recent extinctions . Butchart . S. H. M. . Stattersfield . A. J. . Brooks . Thomas M. . 5 June 2006 . Kirwan . Guy M. . . 126A . 7–24 . the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  26. Web site: Birds on the IUCN Red List. BirdLife International. https://web.archive.org/web/20131014153403/http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/global_species_programme/red_list.html . 14 October 2013. 26 January 2007.
  27. Web site: June 21, 2024 . IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Summary Statistics . IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Summary Statistics . June 21, 2024.
  28. Web site: 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) . IUCN . 27 January 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140627094911/http://www.iucnredlist.org//static/categories_criteria_3_1#introduction . 27 June 2014 .
  29. Web site: Historical IUCN Red Data Books and Red Lists . IUCN . 9 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140627094911/http://www.iucnredlist.org//about/publication/historical-red-lists#red_lists . 27 June 2014 .
  30. Mrosovsky. Nicholas . October 1997. IUCN's credibility critically endangered . Nature. 389. 6650 . 436. 1997Natur.389..436M. 10.1038/38873 . 4389685. free.
  31. Web site: Information Sources & Quality . IUCN Red List . https://web.archive.org/web/20080917154041/http://www.iucnredlist.org/info/info_sources_quality . 17 September 2008 . 19 September 2008.
  32. Possingham. Hugh P.. Hugh Possingham. Andelman. Sandy J. . Burgman . Mark A.. Mark Burgman . Medellı́n . Rodrigo A.. Rodrigo Medellín . Master . Larry L.. Keith. David A.. November 2002 . Limits to the use of threatened species lists. Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 17. 11. 503–507. 10.1.1.467.6031. 10.1016/S0169-5347(02)02614-9 . 2002TEcoE..17..503P .
  33. Web site: Stocks . Sam . New study claims that the IUCN Red List is inaccurate . Discover Wildlife . 10 November 2016 . 24 April 2022.

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