Since its establishment in 1948, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has evolved into a global authority on nature conservation and sustainable resource management. Initially named the International Union for the Protection of Nature, IUCN broadened its scope to encompass sustainable development alongside conservation ecology. Today, with over 1,400 governmental and non-governmental member organizations from 170 countries, IUCN engages in diverse activities such as data analysis, research, advocacy, and education. It employs over 900 staff globally, with its headquarters situated in Gland, Switzerland.
Influencing Global Conservation Agendas
IUCN’s mission is to influence, encourage, and assist societies worldwide in conserving nature and ensuring equitable and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources. Rather than mobilizing public support directly, IUCN focuses on influencing governments, businesses, and other stakeholders through information provision, advice, and partnership building. One of its most renowned initiatives is the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which evaluates the conservation status of species worldwide. Every four years, IUCN hosts the World Conservation Congress, where member organizations set global conservation agendas through voting and resolutions. Additionally, IUCN holds observer and consultative status at the United Nations and plays a significant role in implementing international conventions on nature conservation and biodiversity. Despite its contributions, IUCN has faced criticism in the past for prioritizing nature conservation over indigenous peoples’ interests and for its controversial ties with the business sector.
Understanding IUCN Red List Categories
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies species into nine categories based on criteria such as population size, rate of decline, and geographic distribution. These categories help assess the conservation status of species and guide conservation efforts globally. The categories include:
- Extinct (EX): Species that are beyond doubt no longer in existence.
- Extinct in the Wild (EW): Species surviving only in captivity, cultivation, or outside their native range.
- Critically Endangered (CR): Species facing an extremely high risk of extinction.
- Endangered (EN): Species at a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
- Vulnerable (VU): Species at high risk of unnatural extinction without intervention.
- Near Threatened (NT): Species close to being endangered in the near future.
- Conservation Dependent (CD): A category introduced to preserve the structure of terms and definitions.
- Least Concern (LC): Species unlikely to become endangered or extinct soon.
- Data Deficient (DD): Species with insufficient data to assess their conservation status.
- Not Evaluated (NE): Species that have not yet been evaluated for their conservation status.
Significance of Threatened Categories
In the IUCN Red List, the term “threatened” encompasses species categorized as Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable. These species face significant risks of extinction due to factors such as habitat loss, overexploitation, climate change, and invasive species. By identifying and prioritizing threatened species, conservationists and policymakers can allocate resources effectively to prevent further declines and promote their recovery. The classification system provides a valuable framework for understanding the urgency of conservation action needed to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystems worldwide.
India’s Critically Endangered Species
Birds:
- Himalayan Quail
- Spoon-billed Sandpiper
- Great Indian Bustard
- Red-headed Vulture
- White-bellied Heron
- Forest Owlet
- Aythya Baeri
- Jerdon’s Courser
- Pink-headed Duck
- Sociable Lapwing
- Indian Vulture
- White-backed Vulture
- Siberian Crane
- Bengal Florican
- Slender-billed Vulture
Fishes:
- Ganges Shark
- Pondicherry Shark
- Large-tooth Sawfish
- Narrow-snout Sawfish
- Knife-tooth Sawfish
Mammals:
- Kondana Rat
- Large Rock Rat or Elvira Rat
- Pygmy Hog
- Namdapha Flying Squirrel
- Andaman White-toothed Shrew
- Jenkin’s Andaman Spiny Shrew
- Nicobar White-tailed Shrew
- Sumatran Rhinoceros
- Javan Rhinoceros
- Malabar Civet
Reptiles:
- Bengal Roof Turtle
- Hawksbill Turtle
- Gharial
- River Terrapin
- Sispara day gecko