Why in News ?
- India is preparing a national-level ‘Red List’ of species for the first time, assessing 11,000 species (7,000 flora + 4,000 fauna).
- Announcement made by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh on the first day of the World Congress of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Abu Dhabi.
- Initiative aligns with India’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF).
Relevance
- GS III – Environment & Biodiversity:
- Biodiversity conservation, Red List, endangered species, endemic species.
- Role of government and international organizations (IUCN, CBD).
- GS III – Disaster & Ecology Linkages:
- Understanding species risk contributes to ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction.
Understanding the Red List
- IUCN Red List: Global standard for assessing extinction risk of species.
- Categories of Assessment: Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern, Data Deficient, Not Evaluated.
- Purpose: Helps policymakers and wildlife biologists prioritize conservation actions, allocate resources, and plan recovery for species at risk.
- Scope in India:
- 55,726 species recorded.
- Currently, IUCN assessed only 7,516 species (13.4% are threatened).
- 1,012 species threatened; 289 near threatened; 13.8% data deficient.
- High endemism in amphibians (79%) and reptiles (54.9%) among threatened species.
Objectives of the National Red List
- Assess extinction risk for 11,000 species across India.
- Establish a participatory, nationally coordinated, and upgradable Red Listing system.
- Reflect the true conservation status of India’s biodiversity.
- Track progress of biodiversity protection targets under KM-GBF and SDGs.
- Integrate expert inputs from taxonomists, conservation biologists, and non-profit organizations.
- Create a framework for future conservation recovery plans.
Key Stakeholders
- Government Agencies:
- Union Environment Ministry
- Botanical Survey of India
- Zoological Survey of India
- Non-governmental & Research Organisations:
- Wildlife Institute of India
- Taxonomists and conservation biologists across India
- Global Alignment: Coordinated with IUCN global standards.
Significance of the Initiative
- Biodiversity Conservation: Enables scientific, evidence-based conservation planning.
- Policy Impact: Helps identify priority species and habitats needing immediate protection.
- Global Commitment: Strengthens India’s role in CBD and KM-GBF goals.
- Endemism Protection: Highlights species unique to India, crucial for ecosystem balance and ecological resilience.
- Awareness & Engagement: Promotes participation of civil society, researchers, and local communities in biodiversity monitoring.
Challenges
- Data Deficiency: Many species lack sufficient information, potentially underestimating threats.
- Scale: India has ~55,726 documented species, making assessment resource-intensive.
- Coordination: Requires collaboration across government, academia, NGOs, and international frameworks.
- Implementation: Translating Red List data into actionable conservation policies and field interventions.
Why It Matters Now ?
- Global Biodiversity Targets: India committed to stop biodiversity loss by 2030 under KM-GBF.
- Climate Change & Habitat Loss: Rapid environmental change is increasing extinction risk.
- Awareness & Policy: With this initiative, India strengthens national conservation policies and international credibility.
Conclusion
India’s National Red List provides evidence-based prioritization for species conservation, aligning with global biodiversity commitments. It enables targeted policies, protects endemic species, and promotes scientific and community engagement in biodiversity preservation.
