Project Lion and IUCN Green Status of Species

Posted 16 Apr 2025

Updated 24 Apr 2025

5 min read

Why in the News?

Union Government approved funds for the Project Lion to enhance conservation efforts.

More on the News

The government also approved the establishment of a National Referral Centre for Wildlife (NRC-W) in Gujarat's Junagadh district.
- NRC-W aims to track wildlife diseases, especially those transmissible to humans. E.g., the Babesiosis (targets red blood cells in lions) outbreak in 2020 killed 23 lions in Gujarat's Gir National Park.
- Nodal Agency: Central Zoo Authority
Also, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released the First Green Status Assessment for the Lion under the Green Status of Species (See box).
- IUCN has placed lions under the Largely depleted category.
- The assessment also showed that human impacts are preventing the lion from being fully ecologically functional across its range.
- Also, the assessment highlighted that Lions are extinct from North Africa and Southwest Asia.

IUCN Green Status of Species

It provides a global standard for measuring species recovery and assessing conservation impact.

Key features
- Coverage: Any species except microorganisms.
- Eight Green Status Categories: Extinct in the Wild, Critically Depleted, Largely Depleted, Moderately Depleted, Slightly Depleted, Fully Recovered, Non-Depleted and Indeterminate.
- Complements the Red List: While the Red List focuses on extinction risk, Green Status adds insight into how species can recover and what conservation actions are required.
  - There are now over 100 IUCN Green Status of Species assessments on the IUCN Red List.
- A Green Status of Species assessment is optional part of Red List assessments.
How Green Status Defines Species Recovery?
- A species is fully recovered if:
  - It is present in all parts of its historical range (including areas lost due to human impact).
  - It is viable (not at risk of extinction) across its range.
  - It performs its ecological functions in all parts of its range.

Note: IUCN also releases a Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas.

About Project Lion (2020)

Objective: Securing the future of Asiatic lions through comprehensive, long-term conservation efforts.
Key Focus Areas:
- Landscape ecology-based conservation, ensuring sustainable lion habitats.
- Habitat restoration and securing additional areas for lions.
- Community participation, creating livelihood opportunities for local residents.
- Disease management, establishing India as a global hub for big cat health research and treatment.
Time Period: 10 years
Implementation: By the State Government of Gujarat and other stakeholders like the Central Zoo Authority.

Several other Initiatives have further consolidated the conservation of Asiatic lions

International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA): Launched in 2023, the IBCA reinforces the global commitment to conserving big cats, including lions.
Asiatic Lion Conservation Project: Launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Greater Gir Concept: Involves developing additional suitable habitats beyond the traditional Gir National Park & Sanctuary.
- Sanctuaries like Girnar, Pania, and Mitiyala have been notified to expand the protected area network.
Strengthened Protection Mechanisms: Wildlife Crime Cell is created at the state level and a Task Force for the Greater Gir Region (GGR).
Other:
- Supported under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme- Development of Wildlife Habitat (CSS-DWH)
- Habitat Improvement Measures (E.g. establishment and maintenance of additional water points)
- Observing World Lion Day (10 August).

Conclusion

Project Lion is a significant step toward securing the future of Asiatic lions through habitat conservation, advanced monitoring, and conflict mitigation. Other potential sites, such as Kuno National Park and Palpur-Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh), etc., should be developed as alternative habitats beyond the Gir landscape.

Gir landscape

Gir Forest is the largest compact tract of dry deciduous forests in the semi-arid western part of India
Topography: made up of successive rugged ridges, isolated hills, plateaus and valleys.
Key Rivers: Hiran, Machhundri, Raval, Shetrunji, Shingoda, etc.
Flora: Teak, Dudhlo, khair, etc.
Fauna: Leopard, Hyena, Chital (Deer), Sambar, etc.
Human Settlement: Maldharis (tribal Community) have survived through the ages by having symbiotic relationship with the lion.
- Their settlements are called "nesses".