{"id":2861,"date":"2023-05-22T11:59:16","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T06:29:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/?p=2861"},"modified":"2024-08-09T15:59:12","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T10:29:12","slug":"what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature\/","title":{"rendered":"What is IUCN? About International Union for Conservation of Nature"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature\/#IUCN_Red_List_Categories\" >IUCN &amp; Red List Categories<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature\/#What_is_IUCN\" >What is IUCN?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature\/#The_IUCN_Red_List_of_threatened_species\" >The IUCN Red List of threatened species<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature\/#The_IUCN_Red_List_Categories_and_Criteria\" >The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature\/#Data_Deficient_DD\" >Data Deficient (DD)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature\/#Least_Concern_LC\" >Least Concern (LC)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature\/#Near_Threatened_NT\" >Near Threatened (NT)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature\/#Vulnerable_VU\" >Vulnerable (VU)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature\/#Endangered_EN\" >Endangered (EN)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature\/#Critically_endangered_CR\" >Critically endangered (CR)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature\/#Extinct_in_the_wild_EW\" >Extinct in the wild (EW)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature\/#Extinct_EX\" >Extinct (EX)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature\/#Not_Evaluated\" >Not Evaluated<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/what-is-iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature\/#India_at_IUCN\" >India at IUCN<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"IUCN_Red_List_Categories\"><\/span>IUCN &amp; Red List Categories<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>We keep hearing about the status of various animal and plant species in the wild. These statuses are indicators of their population and the threat they are facing to survive. They are categorized in various categories. What are these categories and what is their definition, what are the criteria for deciding these categories, and who decides? Here we will get the answers to all these questions. First of all, we should know about the organization which decides these various categories of all known wild animal, plant, and fungi species of the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Also Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturesafariindia.com\/conservationists-in-india\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Top 8 wildlife conservationists in India<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_IUCN\"><\/span>What is IUCN?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>IUCN or International Union for the Conservation of Nature is an international membership union composed of both government and civil society organizations. By harnessing the experience, resources, and reach of its more than 1,400 member organizations and the input of some 15000 experts, IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measure needed to safeguard it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"IUCN Academy mock up\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature.jpg\" alt=\"IUCN Academy mock up\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2864\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iucn-international-union-for-conservation-of-nature-360x240.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span>(Source: IUCN)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_IUCN_Red_List_of_threatened_species\"><\/span>The IUCN Red List of threatened species<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>The IUCN\u2019s red list of threatened species was established in 1964 and it evolved to become the global authority and most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, plant, and fungi species.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The IUCN red list not only indicates the health of the world\u2019s biodiversity but also helps to catalyze action for the conservation and management of biodiversity and policy change. The red list categories give information not only for the status of the species but also provides information critical for the management and conservation of the species like species range, population size, habitat and ecology, use and\/or trade, threats, and conservation actions that help the authorities to take necessary conservation decisions which ultimately support the species to recover from the present status.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>At present more than 42,100 species are threatened with extinction, which is still 28% of all assessed species. This list of threatened extinctions includes 41% of amphibians, 27% of Mammals, 34% of conifers, 13% of birds, 37% of sharks and rays, 36% of reef corals, 28% of selected crustaceans, 21% of reptiles, and 69% of cycads. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>To date, IUCN has assessed 150,388 species. Their current goal is to have 160,000 species assessed, which means they need to asses 9,612 species more.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Also Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturesafariindia.com\/wildlife-in-india\/project-tiger\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Project Tiger of India &#8211; Tiger Conservation in India<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"IUCN Red List\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IUCN-Red-List.jpg\" alt=\"IUCN Red List\" width=\"510\" height=\"355\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2865\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IUCN-Red-List.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IUCN-Red-List-300x209.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Read more on the official website of IUCN Redlist: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iucnredlist.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.iucnredlist.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_IUCN_Red_List_Categories_and_Criteria\"><\/span>The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>The IUCN red list categories and criteria is a system of classifying species according to the conservation threats they are facing and their population status in the wild with a high risk of extinction. There are nine different categories that divide the species. <strong>Not evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild,<\/strong> and <strong>Extinct<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"IUCN red list categories discussed\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IUCN-red-list-categories-discussed.png\" alt=\"IUCN red list categories discussed\" width=\"819\" height=\"704\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2868\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IUCN-red-list-categories-discussed.png 819w, https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IUCN-red-list-categories-discussed-300x258.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IUCN-red-list-categories-discussed-768x660.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Data_Deficient_DD\"><\/span><strong> <\/strong>Data Deficient (DD)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span>A species or taxon is data deficient when there is insufficient information available to make a direct or indirect assessment of its risk of extinction based on its distribution and\/or distribution is lacking. There are <strong>20835<\/strong> species of animals, plants, and fungi worldwide that come under this category.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Least_Concern_LC\"><\/span><strong> <\/strong>Least Concern (LC)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span>A taxon or species is of least concern when it has been evaluated as per the information available and does not qualify for other categories which means it is not facing an imminent threat of extinction in the near future especially if its population is maintained at the same level or better in the wild. There are 77491 different wild species that come under this category.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Near_Threatened_NT\"><\/span><strong> <\/strong>Near Threatened (NT)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span>A taxon or species is near threatened when it is evaluated against the information available and does not qualify for the categories like Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable now. But it is likely for the species to get into that category easily if not protected well or there are chances for the species to qualify for higher categories in the near future. There are total of 8816 species come under this category.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Vulnerable_VU\"><\/span><strong> <\/strong>Vulnerable (VU)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span>A taxon is vulnerable when it meets the criteria from A to E set for vulnerable species. The vulnerable species are facing a high risk of extinction in the wild or may jump to next category if proper management practices and best conservation practices are not applied. There are a total of 16493 species under the vulnerable category.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Endangered_EN\"><\/span><strong> <\/strong>Endangered (EN)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span>A species is endangered when after assessment it meets the criteria from A to E set for endangered species. Endangered species are facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild, also they may qualify for next category if immediate action to protect the species has not been taken. The total no. of species covered under this category are 16364.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Critically_endangered_CR\"><\/span><strong> <\/strong>Critically endangered (CR)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span>A species can be counted as critically endangered when the best available evidence suggested that it meets the criteria from A to E set for Critically Endangered species. The Critically Endangered Species face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. There are a total of 9251 species under the category of critically endangered.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"7\">\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Extinct_in_the_wild_EW\"><\/span><strong> <\/strong>Extinct in the wild (EW)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span>A species or taxon is extinct in the wild when it is known to survive only in cultivation, in captivity, or outside its natural or past range. It is declared extinct in the wild when after exhaustive surveys of its distributional range or expected habitat in different seasons and at the appropriate time no record has been found. There are 84 species which is no more exist in their natural habitat, only a few specimens are left in captivity or in cultivation. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"8\">\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Extinct_EX\"><\/span><strong> <\/strong>Extinct (EX)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span>A species or taxon is considered extinct when there is no doubt that its last individual has died. It is declared extinct after an exhaustive survey by experts in their known and\/or expected habitat at the appropriate time (diurnal, seasonal, annual) to their past range failed to record an individual of that species. According to the IUCN, we have already lost 902 species forever.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"9\">\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_Evaluated\"><\/span><strong> <\/strong>Not Evaluated<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span>A species or Taxon is <strong>Not Evaluated<\/strong> when it is not evaluated against any criteria mentioned above. These species are not published on IUCN red list. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>(Source: IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"list of IUCN red list endangered\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/list-of-IUCN-red-list-endangered-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"list of IUCN red list endangered\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-2867\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/list-of-IUCN-red-list-endangered-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/list-of-IUCN-red-list-endangered-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/list-of-IUCN-red-list-endangered-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/list-of-IUCN-red-list-endangered.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"India_at_IUCN\"><\/span>India at IUCN<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>With its incredible diversity of over 45,000 species of plants and 91,000 species of animals, India comes under the banner of a megadiverse country. Within only 2.4% of the land area, India hosts 7-8% of all recorded species. To show and strengthen their commitment to the conservation of nature, India became a state member of IUCN in 1969, through the Ministry of Environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The country office of IUCN was opened in New Delhi in 2007. IUCN India works closely with members and commissions to conserve the species and to manage biodiversity and its sustainable use. It also works at the policy level for the management of habitat, and ecosystems, including protected areas, and addresses the challenges related to poverty, climate change, and food security.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Also read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturesafariindia.com\/wildlife-in-india\/wildlife-protection-act-of-india\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wildlife Protection Act of India &#8211; Conservation in India<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IUCN &amp; Red List Categories We keep hearing about the status of various animal and plant species in the wild. These statuses are indicators of their population and the threat they are facing to survive. They are categorized in various categories. What are these categories and what is their definition, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[472,409],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wildlife-conservation-projects","category-conservation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2861"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2861\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tigersafariindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}