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• What is The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species?

• Our target for 2020

• A bit of history

• How is it compiled?

• Who is involved?

• What does the IUCN Red List tell us and how is it used?

• Red List @ 50 Anniversary Campaign

Red Bag Lunch: celebrating the 50th

Anniversary of The IUCN Red List!

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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

WHAT IS THE IUCN RED LIST OF

THREATENED SPECIES?

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The IUCN Red List• A framework for classifying species according

to extinction risk

• The starting point for conservation action

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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species The world’s most comprehensive information source on the

global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species

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Our Goal

To catalyse action for biodiversity conservation

by providing information and analysis on the world’s

species including threats, population status and trends

© ebatty Flickr

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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

OUR TARGET FOR 2020

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Over 70,000

so far

Our target is to make

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The IUCN Red List History

• 1950s: a card index system documenting

threatened mammals and birds

• Early 1960s: two-volume set of data sheets.

• Sir Peter Scott - ‘a register of threatened

wildlife that includes definitions of degrees of

threat’

• 1964: first comprehensive list of threatened

mammals and birds published

• 1988: all birds assessed

• 2000: IUCN Red List published on the internet

• 2010: Amazing Species; Facebook, Twitter

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

HOW IS IT COMPILED?

Illustration copyright Bob Diven

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IUCN Red List Categories & Criteria

Categories

Thresholds

Criteria

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IUCN Red List assessment process

• Data collection

• Expert workshops

• Reviewing

• Quality control, Red List Unit, Cambridge, UK: Red List database + website

• Publication on www.iucnredlist.org

• Capacity building: training (face to face and online)

• Development of tools, IT infrastructure; Species Information System

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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

WHO IS INVOLVED?

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Who is involved?

• The IUCN Red List is produced by the IUCN Global Species

Programme working in close partnership with the IUCN Species

Survival Commission (SSC) and some Members + Partners

• Based on contributions from a global network of more than 9,215

scientific experts

Introduction to the IUCN Red List

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IUCN Red List Partnership

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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

WHAT DOES THE IUCN RED LIST

TELL US AND HOW IS IT USED?

The Past:

1.8 million

described

species

In the world:

10 -100 million?

8 –15 million

species

74,106 (c. 4%) species

assessed

897 Extinct or EW

22,176 threatened

The status of biodiversity

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Extinction risk:

• All fully assessed groups face a severe risk of extinction

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• In 2010 a study showed that

• 37 of the genuine improvements in status are mammals

• 5% of threatened mammals have increasing populations

• 16 bird species prevented from going extinct in the last 15 years

due to conservation efforts

Humpback Whale California CondorBlack-footed Ferret

Good news too…

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The IUCN Red List Index

• Shows trends over

time in projected

extinction risk of

taxonomic groups of

species

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Species distribution

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How is the IUCN Red List used?

• Scientific research

• Resource allocation

– GEF, CEPF, MBZ, SOS

• Improve decision-making

– Environmental impact assessments

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How is the IUCN Red List used?

• Inform policy and conventions – The CBD Strategic Plan for

Biodiversity; and the Aichi targets; CITES, CMS and many more

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How is the IUCN Red List used?

• Conservation planning and action

– Planning – Key Biodiversity Areas; Important Bird Areas, Alliance for

Zero Extinction sites and more

– Action - Save our Species

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How is the IUCN Red List used?

• Awareness and education

– Press releases: significant media pick up

– New sub-site IUCN Red List Discover

– Weekly Amazing Species

– Social media – Facebook and Twitter @IUCNREDLIST

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How is the IUCN Red List used?

• Building awareness through Zoos,

Aquariums and Botanic Gardens

• Over 70 zoos or aquariums are now

featuring the IUCN Red List scale or logo

on their signage and websites

• More than 700 million people

visit zoos and aquariums worldwide!

Munich Zoo

Chester Zoo

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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

THE IUCN RED LIST

Guiding conservation for 50 years

Objectives of the Campaign

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Campaign objectives of RL@50

• Increase awareness of The IUCN Red List – to inspire

conservation action

• Raise additional funds to take a significant step towards the target

of 160,000 assessed species

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Logo and tag line

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Highlights in 2014

Month Activity

April • Launch of gallery exhibition and fundraising event

in Los Angeles (until June)

June • IUCN Red List media update

• Event in Geneva with the French Permanent

mission and Swiss government

July • Flags on Pont du Mont Blanc, Geneva

• Swiss media focus

August • IUCN Red List video

• Online fundraising campaign (led from US)

•Annual Swim across Lake Geneva

October • Presence at Wildscreen Film Festival London

• New Cemex book on The IUCN Red List

November • IUCN Red List update at the World Parks

Congress

• Biophilia Ball London

• London media blitz

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2014 Annual Lake Swim

across Lake Geneva

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Activity highlights in 2014

– Media: Press releases, interviews

– Regular blog posts on National Geographic

– Increased social media activity including development of fundraising

campaign e.g. Facebook followers nearly tripled during this year

– The Zoo network –e.g. through WAZA and Association for Zoos &

Aquariums in USA

– Regions: USA very active, Asia and Europe planning presence at

events also

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Celebrating 50 years

• Join us in celebrating the contribution of The IUCN

Red List: guiding conservation for 50 years

• Spread the word: Follow us on social media and

share our news; www.facebook.com/iucn.red.list

@IUCNREDLIST

• Wear your IUCN Red List pin!

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www.iucnredlist.org

Thank you!