IUCN Red Data Book

The red data book is a document established for documenting various species of animals. The red data book includes nine categories of animal species. One of the most well-known objective assessment systems for evaluating the condition of plants, animals, and other species threatened with extinction is the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, generally known as the IUCN Red List. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) introduced this assessment method in 1994.

IUCN Red Dat Book - Contents

The red data book includes endangered species, extant species, and many more. The Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN red data list or IUCN red data book) was established in 1964 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The red data book is published by the International Union of Conservation of nature. The red data book is published by IUCN, founded in 1964, which is the world’s most comprehensive inventory.

It is the world's most complete list of biological species' global conservation status. It assesses the extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies using a set of criteria. These standards apply to all species and all parts of the globe. The IUCN red data book is widely regarded as the most authoritative guide to the status of biological diversity because of its strong scientific foundation. Countries or organizations create a series of Regional Red Lists that assess the risk of extinction for species within a political control unit.

Thousands of species and subspecies are evaluated for extinction risk using the IUCN Red List, which is based on strict criteria. These standards apply to all species and all parts of the globe. The goal is to raise awareness of the importance of conservation issues among the general public and policymakers and assist the worldwide community in its efforts to prevent species extinction. 

BirdLife International, the Institute of Zoology (the research section of the Zoological Society of London), the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, and several Specialist Groups within the IUCN Species Survival Commission are among the major species assessors (SSC). Nearly half of the species on the Red List have been assessed by these organizations and groups.

If possible, the IUCN strives to have every species' category re-evaluated every ten years or every five years. This is accomplished through IUCN Species Survival Commission Specialist Groups, which are Red List Authorities in charge of a specific species, group of species, geographic area, or, in the case of BirdLife International, an entire species class (Aves). The red data book includes endangered species, extant species, and many more.

The number of species evaluated for the Red List has been steadily rising over time. As of 2019, human activities, particularly overfishing, hunting, and land development, have put 28,338 species at risk of extinction out of 105,000 species surveyed.

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Categories of Species

The IUCN Red List divides species into nine groups based on factors like rate of decline, population size, geographic distribution area, and degree of population and distribution fragmentation. The acceptability of employing any criterion in the absence of high-quality data, including suspicion and potential future risks, is emphasized, "as long as they can be fairly substantiated." The red data book animals include various species of animals which are included below. The red data book animals include Tiger, Red panda, Golden Langur.

• Extinct (EX) is a term used to describe species in which the final individual has died or where systematic and timely surveys have failed to find even a single individual.

• Extinct in the Wild (EW) species are those that only exist in captivity or artificially supported populations well outside of their historical geographic range.

• Critically Endangered (CR) Species face an extremely high risk of extinction as a result of fast population losses of 80 to more than 90% in the preceding 10 years (or three generations), a current population of fewer than 50 people, or other factors.

• Endangered (EN) species face an extremely high risk of extinction due to fast population decreases of 50 to more than 70% in the preceding 10 years (or three generations), a present population size of fewer than 250 individuals, or other causes. The red data book endangered species include Tigers, Asiatic Lion, Red Panda.

• Vulnerable (VU) species face an extremely serious danger of extinction due to fast population decreases of 30 to more than 50% in the preceding 10 years (or three generations), a current population of fewer than 1,000 people, or other factors.

• Near Threatened (NT) is a designation given to species that are on the verge of becoming endangered or may soon meet the criteria for endangered status.

• Least Concern (LC) is a category that includes animals that are widespread and numerous.

• Data Deficient (DD) is a term used to describe a species whose amount of accessible data on its danger of extinction is insufficient in some aspects. As a result, a thorough examination is impossible. As a result, unlike the other categories on this list, this one does not describe a species' conservation status.

• Not Assessed (NE) Any of the nearly 1.9 million species that have been described by science but have not been classified by the IUCN.

The Red List Index

The IUCN Red List Index (RLI) gives a more accurate picture of true changes within taxonomic categories and for biodiversity as a whole. For groups in which all species have been assessed at least twice, the RLI is available. Birds, mammals, amphibians, corals, and cycads are the five groups for which the Index is now accessible. The RLI shows that the status of these five key groups is continuing to deteriorate.

If all other factors were equal, a species experiencing a 90% drop in ten years (or three generations) would be categorized as critically endangered. Similarly, another species having a 50% decline over the same period would be categorized as endangered, while one experiencing a 30% decline would be classified as vulnerable. It's vital to remember, though, that a species can't be classed just based on one criterion; the scientist doing the evaluation must evaluate all five factors when evaluating the species' status.

Thousands of scientists analyze or reassess species every year all across the world. After the evaluations have been reviewed for accuracy, the IUCN Red List is updated with the new information. As a result, the data helps to keep a constant eye on the status of the world's endangered plants, animals, and other organisms. As a result, interested parties such as national governments and conservation organizations can utilize the IUCN Red List information to prioritize their species-protection activities.

The IUCN Red List highlights the continual loss of biodiversity on Earth and the impact humans have on life on the planet. It establishes a globally recognized standard for assessing the conservation status of species over time. By 2019, the IUCN Red List categories and criteria had been applied to 96,500 species.

Use of IUCN Red Data List and IUCN Red Book

• IUCN Red List data is used in international agreements to aid decision-making and as an indicator of the state of wildlife. CITES, the Ramsar Convention, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the CBD Aichi Targets are just a few examples.

• The IUCN Red List Index is used by the World Bank Group Performance Standard PS6 to reduce the risk of biodiversity loss from large-scale infrastructure and natural resource exploitation projects.

• Data from the IUCN Red List is used by government agencies to inform policies such as National Parks legislation.

• The IUCN Red List Categories are used by zoos to educate the public about the status of species.

• In their analyses and publications, scientists use data from the IUCN Red List as a primary data source.

• In college projects, teachers and students use data from the IUCN Red List.

• Journalists utilize data from the IUCN Red List to inform their stories.