IUCN Red Data Book

The red list book was published by (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book) International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1964. It is the world's most complete list of biological species' global conservation status. It uses a set of criteria to estimate the extinction danger of thousands of species and subspecies. These standards apply to all species and all parts of the globe. The IUCN Red List is widely regarded as the most authoritative reference to the status of biological diversity because of its strong scientific foundation. Thousands of species and subspecies are evaluated for extinction danger 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, as well as to assist the worldwide community in its efforts to prevent species extinction. 

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According to the IUCN, the formally stated aims of the Red List are to offer scientifically-based information on the condition of species and subspecies on a worldwide basis. Increase public awareness of the quantity and relevance of endangered biodiversity, influence national and international policy and decision-making, and offer data to aid conservation efforts.

BirdLife International, the Institute of Zoology (the research branch of the Zoological Society of London), the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, and a number of Specialist Groups within the IUCN Species Survival Commission are among the major species assessors (SSC). This article will cover the brief history of the red data book, why is the Red List so important, and How does the red data book help in protecting biodiversity.

Brief History of the Red Data Book

The red data book is published by the Russian country. Red Data Book of the Russian Federation, or RDBRF, was the original name of this book. The book was based on Russian scientists' research done between 1961 and 1964. As a result, it's also known as the Russian Red Data Book. The Red Data Book is now maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The (IUCN) International Union for Conservation of Nature is the globe’s most comprehensive inventory of biological species' global conservation status. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was established in 1948 with the goal of compiling a comprehensive list of all known species. The entire list of endangered species may be found in the Red Data Book. The major goal of this documentation is to give comprehensive information for species study and analysis.

The Red Data Book is a collection of colour-coded information sheets for a range of species and subspecies organised by extinction threats.

• The colour black denotes species that have been verified to be extinct.

• The colour red denotes endangered species.

• Amber is used to identifying species whose status is deemed fragile.

• Rare species are given the colour white.

• Green indicates that a species was formerly endangered but that its numbers have begun to recover.

• Grey is used to representing species that are listed as fragile, endangered, or uncommon, but for which there is insufficient information to fully classify them.

Why did IUCN prepare the red data book?

The IUCN Red List Categories are intended to provide a simple approach for identifying species at serious danger of extinction across the world. The system's overall goal is to give a clear framework for classifying species according to their danger of extinction.  Despite the fact that the Red List focuses on the most endangered species, it is not the only tool for prioritising conservation efforts.

The following are the objectives of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria:

• To develop a system that can be used consistently by a variety of individuals.

• To give clear instructions on how to assess various extinction causes.

• To provide a framework that allows for cross-taxon comparisons.

Why is the Red List so important?

Red is a colour associated with danger, urgency, passion, and vigour. “The Red List” elicits all four of these emotions in most environmentalists, sometimes all at once. The Red List identifies which species are the most endangered and should be protected first. It's also a strong weapon for persuading governments to conserve endangered species, and it's critical for the majority of plant and animal species on the planet. The Red List is known as the "barometer of life" because it contains a wealth of information about species' dangers, ecological requirements, where they reside, and conservation activities that may be performed to minimise their risk of extinction. The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM is the full name International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and BirdLife International is the authority for birds, coordinating the process of reviewing all of the world's bird species against the Red List categories and criteria in order to evaluate their extinction danger. 

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It is, however, much more than a list. It's the result of decades of hard work, tens of thousands of volunteers, field reports, scientific articles, and many phone calls, emails, and debates on BirdLife's Globally Threatened Birds Forums.

Every year, the crew works into the wee hours of the morning to come to a decision about the status of the world's birds, but the 2016 update was particularly unique and difficult. Not only was BirdLife currently conducting a four-yearly thorough evaluation of the condition of every bird species on the globe, but the second volume of the HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World required a taxonomic assessment of every passerine species as well.

Advantages of the Red Data Book

• It aids in the identification of all birds, animals, and other genera, as well as the conservation status of each.

• It's used to figure out how big a species' population is.

• The data in this book can be used to evaluate taxa on a global basis.

• We can assess the probability of taxa becoming globally extinct with the aid of this book.

• Provides a framework or set of principles for executing endangered species protection actions.

Disadvantages of the Red Data Book

• The information in the Red Data Book is inadequate. Many extinct and living species are not updated in this book.

• The source of the book's data has been a topic of speculation and debate.

• This book has a full list of all animals, plants, and other species but no information on microorganisms.

IUCN Red Book Facts

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world's leading expert on species conservation (critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable and extinct).

• Plants, fungi, and animals are all protected under the IUCN Global Species Programme. It lays the groundwork for making educated decisions on biodiversity conservation at all scales, from local to global.

• The IUCN Red List's principal goal is to identify and classify plants and animals that are at risk of extinction on a worldwide scale.

• The first complete list of endangered animals and birds was collected and published in 1964. It made the data available to the broader public.

• In 1988, all birds were evaluated for the first time. Other species include all Conifers in 1998, all Amphibians in 2004, all Mammals in 2008, Cycads and Reef Building Corals in 2011, and all Sharks and Rays in 2012.

• The IUCN Red Data Book contains scientifically accurate data on the present state of globally endangered biodiversity.

• The IUCN Red List is updated on a regular basis (usually at least once every four years).

• The IUCN Red List includes information on population size and trends, geographic distribution, and habitat needs for each species examined. More than 76,000 species have been identified to date, with more than 22,000 facing extinction.

Uses of Red Data Book

1. Guiding scientific research

The IUCN Red List is frequently cited in the peer-reviewed literature by scientific publications. Every year, a slew of new conservation publications analyse The IUCN Red List's significance and point to its critical role in conservation strategy. Academics from research institutes across the world export IUCN Red List data for research purposes on a regular basis, according to data downloaded from the website.

2. Informing policy and conventions

Multilateral Environmental Agreements use the IUCN Red List to guide their choices. Its usage as a reference to amending the annexes of important international treaties such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) is still going strong.

3. Influencing resource allocation

Since 2008, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has modified its resource allocation methodology with data from the IUCN Red List. Other foundations and financing mechanisms, like the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), SOS - Save Our Species, and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, use data from IUCN Red List evaluations to drive their conservation initiatives.

4. Improving decision-making

Environmental impact assessments, which are frequently used to educate decision-makers of the possible environmental implications of adopting proposed projects, might benefit from the IUCN Red List. The Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT), an innovative decision support tool available to both the commercial and conservation sectors, includes data from The IUCN Red List, for example. The vast amount of data on ecosystems and species risks is also utilised in biodiversity management and site restoration planning.

The Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book) was published in 1964. Thousands of species and subspecies are evaluated for extinction danger using strict criteria. The goal is to raise awareness of the importance of conservation issues among the general public.