National Red List Assessment Initiative
The Indian government is embarking on a comprehensive initiative to assess the extinction risk of around 11,000 species, which includes 7,000 plant species and 4,000 animal species, to compile a 'national red list.' This effort aligns with global commitments towards biodiversity protection.
Key Objectives and Framework
- Establish a nationally coordinated, participatory, and upgradable Red Listing system.
- Reflects the conservation status of India’s biodiversity accurately.
- Aligned with IUCN global standards and aims to fulfill commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF).
Importance of the IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a critical global organization involved in assessing the health of species worldwide through its Red List.
- The Red List classifies species into categories such as extinct, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened, and least concern.
Current Statistics and Findings
- India has 55,726 recorded plant species, with 6.33% assessed for the IUCN Red List globally.
- Of the 1,04,561 documented fauna species, 7,516 have been assessed, accounting for 7.2% of India’s faunal diversity.
- 13.4% of assessed species are in the threatened category, and 289 species are near threatened.
- 13.8% of species fall under the data deficient category, creating uncertainty about their conservation status.
Endemism
- 1,582 out of 6,568 species assessed by IUCN are endemic to India, with significant endemism in amphibians (79%) and reptiles (54.9%).
Implementation and Collaboration
The project will be spearheaded by the Union Environment Ministry, involving the Botanical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India, and the Wildlife Institute of India.
- Envisioned to bring together leading taxonomists, conservation biologists, and subject experts.
