Component-I (A) - Personal Details

Role Name Affiliation

Principal Investigator Prof. Masood Ahsan Department of
Siddiqui Geography,
Jamia Millia Islamia,
New Delhi
Paper Coordinator, if any Dr. Saleha Jamal Aligarh Muslim
University, Aligarh
Content Writer/Author (CW) Dr. Saleha Jamal Department of
Geography,
Aligarh Muslim
University, Aligarh
Content Reviewer (CR) Prof. Abha Lakshmi Singh Department of
Geography,
Aligarh Muslim
University, Aligarh
Language Editor (LE)

Component-I (B) - Description of Module

Items Description of Module

Subject Name Geography
Paper Name Environmental Geography
Module Name/Title IUCN and Red List

Module Id EG-14
Pre-requisites
Objectives
Keywords Species, Extinction, Diversity, Endangered, Vulnerable,
Conservation, population

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Structure
1.1 Introduction: IUCN and IUCN Red List
1.2 Problem Related to Categorisation of Red List
1.3 Benefits and Uses of IUCN Red List
1.4 Criteria A to E
1.5 IUCN Red List Categories
1.6 Status of Threatened Species 2004-2012
1.7 The Red List Index (RLI)
1.8 IUCN and India
1.9 IUCN Red List and India

Objectives of the Study

 Define IUCN and IUCN Red List

 List various IUCN red list categories and problem related to categorisation of red list
 Describe Benefits and Uses of IUCN red list and criteria A to E
 Describe Status of threatened Species
 Describe IUCN and India and IUCN red list and India

1.1 Introduction: IUCN and IUCN Red List

The term IUCN stands for International Union for Conservation of Nature which was
established in 1948. It is an international organization comprised of over 1300 government
and non government members and relying on the input of about 16000 experts. Its objective
is to promote nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources throughout the
world. This organization also focuses on issues such as poverty, gender equality, and
sustainable business practices in order to address its core objective. To achieve its goal, the
organization engages in field-work, data collection and analysis, lobbying, and public
education outreach. The IUCN provides knowledge and tools that enable and promote the
sustainable development at a global level (Cordoso et al., 2016). The present headquarter of
IUCN is located in United Kingdom.

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One of the historical works done by IUCN is its list of threatened species of plants and
animals also famous by the name of Red List. It is also known as the Red Data List. The
IUCN Red List System was initiated in 1963 and since then evaluation of the conservation
status of species and subspecies is continuing on a global scale. The IUCN Red List is
arguably one of the most useful worldwide lists of species that area at risk of extinction. The
Red List, established in 1964, provides the conservation status of plant and animal species
around the world. Its usefulness is based on its reliance on a number of objective criteria. The
IUCN members determine the risk of a species’ extinction by utilizing criteria such as
population size, subpopulations, the number of mature individuals, generation, the decline in
population size, extreme fluctuations in population size, fragmented populations and habitats,
habitat area size, and distribution of the population. These rules have received international
acceptance and have become one of the key decision tools in conservation biology for
focusing attention on species of conservation concern (Gardenfors, 2001). Threatened species
are assessed as Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) or Vulnerable (VU), but
extinct or non-threatened species are also assessed and listed. Besides extinction risk
assessment, the Red List provides a plethora of useful information on each species assessed,
including distribution, trends, threats and conservation actions. The quantity and quality of
this information allows the Red List to be used in multiple ways, such as to raise awareness
about threatened species, guide conservation efforts and funding, set priorities for protection,
measure site irreplaceability and vulnerability, influence environmental policies and
legislation and evaluate and monitor the state of biodiversity (Rodrigues et al., 2006; Baillie
et al., 2008; Martin-Lopez et al., 2009).

1.2 Problem Related to Categorisation of Red List

As far as the categorisation of Red List is concerned the IUCN has developed a Red List for
classifying species of high risk at global level i.e., assessment will be made at global level.
Now the question arise is that suppose a species of plant or animal might be in Red List at
global level but locally it is not in the Red list at national or regional level. Thus categorising
the species at regional or national level becomes a problem because a list formulated at
international level might not prove applicable at national level. Erroneous exclusion of
species as threatened on either global or national level could lead to extinction. There were
two solutions for the problem, first to publish a IUCN Red List which consists of those
species of regional importance or to publish a Red List locally after assessing species

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extinction risk. Thus it can inferred that IUCN criteria for classifying threatened species in
red lists were constructed primarily for application on a global scale, and using the system at
a national scale has the potential to be problematic (Keller and Bollmann, 2004). However,
most conservation efforts are conducted at national levels, and hence there is a great demand
for red lists at the national scale. IUCN therefore supports and encourages national red list
processes, and recommends the use of a set of guidelines for regional application of the
IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria With the objective of facilitating the exchange of
information between national and global red list authorities, it is recommended that all
assessments (national and global) should follow the global minimum documentation
standards of the IUCN Red List and the IUCN ‘Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List
Criteria at Regional Levels’ (Gardenfors, 2001).

1.3 Benefits and Uses of IUCN Red List

The Red List data are a source of information that is essential to guide conservation efforts
focused on species. Threat categorizations themselves are key to guiding priorities for
conservation investment among species, albeit necessarily along with other information, such
as cost and feasibility (Collar, 1996; Possingham, 2002). Red List is not just conservative tool
which classify the species into a category of threat but it also derive from the wealth of data,
collected to support these assessments, that are published online in a searchable format. A
major contribution of the Red List assessments is the compilation of a rapidly increasing
number of digital distribution maps of species, for example, of all threatened birds and
amphibians. IUCN Red List draws attention to the magnitude and importance of threatened
biodiversity. It identifies and documents those species most in need of conservation. It
provides a global index of the decline of biodiversity and provides a baseline from which to
monitor the future status of species. It also provides information to help establish
conservation priorities at the local level and guide conservation action. Moreover, the list is
used in developing awareness about the importance of threatened biodiversity, identification
and documentation of endangered species, providing a global index of the decline of
biodiversity and defining conservation priorities of the local level and guiding conservation action.

1.4 Criteria A to E

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) uses several criteria to enter
species in various categories. These criteria (A to E) are discussed below.

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Criteria A: Population reduction in the form of either of the following: An observed,
estimated, inferred or suspected reduction of at least 20% over the last 10 years or three
generations, whichever is the longer, based on (and specifying) any of the following: direct
observation, an index of abundance appropriate for the taxon, a decline in area of occupancy,
extent of occurrence and/or quality of habitat, actual or potential levels of exploitation, the
effects of introduced taxa, hybridization, pathogens, pollutants, competitors or parasites. A
reduction of at least 20%, projected or suspected to be met within the next ten years or three
generations, whichever is the longer, based on (and specifying) any of (2), (3), (4) or (5)
above.

Criteria B: Extent of occurrence estimated to be less than 20,000 km2 or area of occupancy
estimated to be less than 2000 km2, and estimates indicating any two of the following:
Severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than ten locations. Continuing decline,
inferred, observed or projected, in any of the following; extent of occurrence, area of
occupancy, area, extent and/or quality of habitat, number of locations or subpopulations and
number of mature individuals. Moreover, extreme fluctuations in any of the following: extent
of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of locations or subpopulations, number of mature
individuals.

Criteria C: Population estimated to number fewer than 10,000 mature individuals and either:
An estimated continuing decline of at least 10% within 10 years or three generations,
whichever is longer, or A continuing decline, observed, projected, or inferred, in numbers of
mature individuals and population structure in the form of either: severely fragmented (i.e. no
subpopulation estimated to contain more than 1000 mature individuals) all individuals are in
a single subpopulation

Criteria D: Population very small or restricted in the form of either of the following:
population estimated to number less than 1000 mature individuals. Population is
characterized by an acute restriction in its area of occupancy (typically less than 100 km2) or
in the number of locations (typically less than five). Such a taxon would thus be prone to the
effects of human activities (or stochastic events whose impact is increased by human
activities) within a very short period of time in an unforeseeable future, and is thus capable of
becoming Critically Endangered or even Extinct in a very short period.

Criteria E: Quantitative analysis showing the probability of extinction in the wild is at least
10% within 100 years (IUCN, 2012).
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1.5 IUCN Red List Categories

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species was created in 1964. This is the world’s most
inclusive record of the worldwide conservation status of biological species. The Species are
categorized into nine groups by the IUCN Red List (see figure 1).
 Extinct (EX): A species becomes extinct when the last existing member of that family
dies or no known individuals remaining. A species said to be a taxon when there is no
reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. A taxon is presumed extinct when
exhaustive surveys in known and/or expected habitat, at appropriate times (diurnal,
seasonal, annual) throughout his historic range have failed to record an individual.
Survey should be over a time frame appropriate to the taxon’s life cycles and life forms.
 Extinct in Wild (EW): Undoubtedly the last member has died but the captive member
endures or as a naturalised population outside its historic range. A taxon is extinct in the
wild when it is known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalised
population well outside the past range. A taxon is presumed extinct in the wild when
exhaustive surveys in known and/or expected habitat at appropriate times (diurnal,
seasonal, annual) throughout his historic range have failed to record an individual.
Survey should be over a time frame appropriate to the taxon’s life cycles and life forms.
 Critically Endangered (CE): The critically endangered species face an extremely
high risk of extinction in the immediate future. Extremely high risk of the extinction
in the wild. A taxon is critically endangered when the best available evidence
indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Critically Endangered and it is
therefore considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
 Endangered (EN): The endangered species are the species which faces a high risk of
extinction in the near future. High risk of the extinction in the wild. A taxon is
Endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria
A to E for Endangered and it is therefore considered to be facing an very high risk of
extinction in the wild.
 Vulnerable (VU): High risk of endangerment in the wild. A taxon is Vulnerable
when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for
Vulnerable and it is therefore considered to be facing high risk of extinction in the wild.
 Near Threatened (NT): Close to qualifying among threatened species or likely to
become endangered in the near future. A taxon is near threatened when it has been

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 evaluated against the criteria but does not qualify for Critically Endangered,
Endangered or Vulnerable now but it is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify
for a threatened category in the near future.
 Least Concern (LC): Low risk to extinction. Does not qualify for a more at-risk
category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category. A taxon is
Least Concern when it has been evaluated against the criteria but does not qualify for
Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable or near threatened. Widespread
and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Figure 1: IUCN Red List Category

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  Data Deficient (DD): Insufficient data to generate an analysis or in other words not
enough data to make an assessment of its risk of extinction. A taxon is Data Deficient
when there is inadequate information to make a direct or indirect assessment of its
risk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status. A taxon in this
category may be well studied and its biology well known but appropriate data on
abundance and/or distribution are lacking. Data Deficient is therefore not a category
of threat. Listing of taxa in this category shows that more information is required and
acknowledges the possibility that future research will show that threatened
classification is appropriate. It is important to make positive use of whatever data are
available.
 Not Evaluated (NE): Not assessed against criteria. A taxon is Not Evaluated when it
is has not yet been evaluated against the criteria (IUCN, 2017).

1.6 Status of Threatened Species 2004-2012:

The 2004 IUCN Red List was the most comprehensive assessment of the global conservation
status of threatened plants and animals species. Based on assessment of 2004 IUCN Red List
there were 15589 species (7266 animals, 8321 plants and 2 lichens) listed as threatened. Of
these 2866 are listed as critically endangered (1376 animals and 1490 plants). Two species of
lichens were added to the IUCN; the first addition from the fungi kingdom namely; Perforate

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Reindeer Lichen and Boreal Felt Lichen. The 2012 IUCN Red List shows a sharp increase in
the threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable) species of various groups’
vertebrates and plants. However it should be noted that many more species were assessed in
2012 than in 2004. In July, 2012 of the total 63837 species globally assessed, the IUCN
classified 3947 as Critically Endangered, 81 as Extinct in the wild. In the lower risk
categories, there were 5766 species in Endangered, 10104 in vulnerable and 4467 in Near
Threatened categories. Since data regarding 10497 species was not available and hence
classified as data deficient. At threat are 41 per cent of amphibian species, 33 per cent are
reef building corals, 25 per cent of mammals, 13 per cent of birds, and 30 per cent conifers.
The update to IUCN 2012 list has been released on 2 July, 2013. With this update 4807
species have been added to the IUCN Red List of 2012 bringing the total of assessed species
to 70294 of which 20934 are threatened with extinction.

1.7 The Red List Index (RLI)

The Red List Index is based on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, is an indicator of
the changing state of global diversity. It defines the conservation status of major species
groups, and measures trend in extinction risk overtime. RLI have been calculated using
changes in threat status of species in each of the groups. Currently the Red List Index is
available for four taxonomic groups only (those in which all the species have been assessed at
least twice); birds, mammals, amphibians and corals. The RLI clearly demonstrates that the
status of these major groups is still declining. An increasing number of national RLIs are now
being used by countries to monitor biodiversity loss. Coral species are moving towards
increased extinction risk most rapidly, while amphibians are on average the most threatened
group.

1.8 IUCN and India

India is known for its mega-diversity because from the world’s total land area of only 2.4 per
cent it accounts for world’s 7 to 8 per cent of all recorded species which includes more than
45000 species of plants and 91000 species of animals. The reason behind such a mega-
diversity of India is its physical features and climatic conditions that have resulted in a
variety of ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, grasslands, desert, coastal and marine
ecosystems which harbor and sustain high biodiversity and contribute to human well-being.
Globally, there are 34 identified biodiversity hotspots and from among these 4 hotspots are

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found in India namely; The Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the North-East, and the Nicobar
Islands.

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India became a State Member of IUCN in 1969, through the Ministry of Environment, Forest
and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The IUCN India Country Office was established in 2007 in
New Delhi. IUCN India works with Members and Commissions to reduce ecosystem and
species loss by providing the necessary tools and knowledge to value, conserve and
use biodiversity sustainability; enhance governance and policy for better management of
ecosystems and habitats, including protected areas; and address challenges related to poverty
alleviation, food security and climate change.

1.9 IUCN Red List and India

India has 988 species on IUCN Red List in 2015. India has added 15 more species to the Red
List of threatened species in 2014. The list contains critically endangered, endangered and
vulnerable species (Rao, 2015). These species include Himalayan Red and Brown Bear found
mostly in Nepal, Tibet, north India and north Pakistan. Pygmy Hog is the world’s smallest
wild pig they are relatively distributed in tall Terai grasslands, Kondana Rat is a nocturnal
burrowing rodent that is found only in India and their main habitat is tropical and subtropical
dry deciduous forests and tropical scrub, Namdapha Flying Squirrel is a native of tropical
forest and found only in Namdapha Tiger reserve, Malabar Civet is endemic to India and was
first reported from Kerala, it is nocturnal in nature and found exclusively in Western Ghats,
most important threats include deforestation and commercial plantation. Kashmir Hangul is a
subspecies to red Dear and native to India and are found in dense riverine forest, high valleys
and mountains of the Kashmir valley and northern Chamba in Himachal Pradesh. Red Panda
endemic to temperate forests of the Himalayas and are found in the states of Sikkim, Assam
and Northern Arunachal Pradesh.

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