IUCN Red List

Current Context : International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) marks the 60th anniversary of the Red List.

About IUCN Red List

• Established in: 1964.
• Purpose: Acts as a global reference for the conservation status of animal, plant, and fungal species, providing critical data for environmental policy and biodiversity protection.
• Categories: Includes nine main status groups: Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild, and Extinct. These are used to classify species based on set assessment criteria.

Current Conservation Insights

• Species Assessed: Over 166,000 species reviewed, with more than 46,300 at risk of extinction.
• Affected Groups: Includes 44% of reef-building corals, 41% of amphibians, and 26% of mammals.
• Positive Impact: Some species have been downlisted thanks to successful conservation efforts​

IUCN Background

• Founded in: 1948.
• Membership: Consists of over 1,400 government and non-government organizations.
• Role: Develops guidelines and practices for effective conservation and supports biodiversity initiatives globally​