Introduction to the IUCN Red Listing Process
Introduction to the IUCN Red Listing Process
Introduction to the IUCN Red Listing Process
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<strong>Introduction</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>IUCN</strong><br />
<strong>Red</strong> <strong>Listing</strong> <strong>Process</strong><br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
What is <strong>the</strong> likelihood of a species becoming<br />
extinct in <strong>the</strong> near future, given current<br />
knowledge about population trends,<br />
range, and recent, current or<br />
projected threats?<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
The<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong><br />
Categories<br />
Extinct (EX)<br />
Extinct in <strong>the</strong> Wild (EW)<br />
Critically Endangered (CR)<br />
Endangered (EN)<br />
Vulnerable (VU)<br />
Near Threatened (NT)<br />
Least Concern (LC)<br />
Data Deficient (DD)<br />
Not Evaluated (NE)<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Near Threatened (NT)<br />
A taxon is Near Threatened when it has been evaluated<br />
against <strong>the</strong> criteria and does not qualify for CR, EN or VU<br />
now, but is close <strong>to</strong> qualifying for<br />
or is likely <strong>to</strong> qualify for a threatened<br />
category in <strong>the</strong> near future.<br />
Least Concern (LC)<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> © H. Fraga<br />
Macaronesian Laurel, Laurus azorica<br />
A taxon is Least Concern when it has been evaluated against<br />
<strong>the</strong> criteria and does not qualify for CR, EN,<br />
VU or NT. Widespread and abundant taxa<br />
are included in this category.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong> © Caroline Pollock<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)<br />
Olive Baboon, Papio anumbis
Data Deficient (DD)<br />
Tree Toma<strong>to</strong><br />
Solanum [Cyphomandra] betacea<br />
Not Evaluated (NE)<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Data Deficient (DD)<br />
Not Evaluated (NE)<br />
Although DD and NE are not<br />
threatened categories, taxa classed<br />
as DD or NE should NOT be treated as<br />
not threatened<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Types of data required for<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> <strong>Red</strong> List assessments<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Dealing with a lack of high<br />
quality data<br />
• The threatened categories use<br />
quantitative thresholds<br />
• BUT a lack of high quality data should<br />
not deter assessors from applying <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> criteria.<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Concepts and definitions<br />
underlying <strong>the</strong> <strong>IUCN</strong> <strong>Red</strong> List<br />
Categories and Criteria<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Key terms used in <strong>the</strong> <strong>IUCN</strong> <strong>Red</strong><br />
List criteria<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
<strong>Red</strong>uction is a decline in population<br />
size of at least <strong>the</strong> % stated in criterion<br />
A over <strong>the</strong> specified time period.<br />
Population<br />
Size<br />
Time<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Extent of Occurrence is <strong>the</strong> area<br />
contained within <strong>the</strong> shortest<br />
continuous imaginary boundary<br />
which can be drawn <strong>to</strong> encompass<br />
all known, inferred, or projected sites<br />
presently occupied by <strong>the</strong> taxon.<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Invasive<br />
species<br />
2 locations<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Pollution<br />
4 locations<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
4-5<br />
locations<br />
Pollution<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
The <strong>IUCN</strong> <strong>Red</strong> List Criteria<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
A<br />
CRITERIA<br />
Nature of <strong>the</strong> Criteria<br />
Population<br />
reduction<br />
THREATENED<br />
CATEGORIES<br />
B<br />
Restricted<br />
geographic range<br />
Critically Endangered (CR)<br />
C<br />
Small population<br />
size & decline<br />
Quantitative<br />
thresholds<br />
Endangered (EN)<br />
D<br />
E<br />
Very small or<br />
restricted<br />
population<br />
Quantitative<br />
analysis<br />
Vulnerable (VU)<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Why use multiple criteria?<br />
Not all <strong>the</strong> criteria are appropriate <strong>to</strong> all taxa.<br />
• All taxa being assessed must be evaluated<br />
against each criterion.<br />
• Meeting any one of <strong>the</strong> criteria qualifies a<br />
taxon for listing at that level of threat<br />
• All criteria met at <strong>the</strong> highest level of threat<br />
should be listed.<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Criterion A<br />
Past, present or future population reduction<br />
Population<br />
Size<br />
Time<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Criterion A<br />
Based on any of four criteria:<br />
A1: Population reduction in past and causes of<br />
decline now ceased<br />
A2: Population reduction in past and causes of<br />
decline ongoing<br />
A3: Population reduction expected in future<br />
A4: Population reduction in past AND future<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Criterion A<br />
Managed harvest species<br />
(e.g., fisheries)<br />
Taxa that are <strong>the</strong> target of large-scale harvesting may show a decline in population size due<br />
<strong>to</strong> intentional management actions. Such taxa could be assigned a threatened status under<br />
criterion A.<br />
Concern has been expressed that such a listing might not reflect extinction risk, especially if<br />
<strong>the</strong> decline is a consequence of a management plan designed <strong>to</strong> maximize sustainable<br />
yield from a fishery.<br />
BUT, if <strong>the</strong> fishery is managed effectively, although it currently shows symp<strong>to</strong>ms consistent<br />
with endangerment, <strong>the</strong> population will eventually stabilize at a target level and <strong>the</strong> decline<br />
will end, such that <strong>the</strong> taxon would <strong>the</strong>n no longer qualify for listing. If declines continued,<br />
<strong>the</strong>re would be good reason for concern, and <strong>the</strong> listing would still apply.<br />
Taxa that are targeted by sustainably managed fisheries should be assessed under criterion<br />
A1, where <strong>the</strong> higher thresholds make it less likely that <strong>the</strong>y will be classified as threatened.<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Criterion A1<br />
past reduction & causes<br />
unders<strong>to</strong>od & ceased &<br />
reduction is reversible<br />
Present<br />
Last 10 years or 3 generations<br />
(whichever is longer)<br />
Criterion A2<br />
past reduction & causes<br />
may not be unders<strong>to</strong>od<br />
or may not have ceased<br />
or reduction may not be<br />
reversible<br />
Present <strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)<br />
Last 10 years or 3 generations<br />
(whichever is longer)
Sub-criterion A3<br />
future decline<br />
Present<br />
Next 10 years or 3 generations<br />
(whichever is longer up <strong>to</strong> a maximum of 100<br />
years)<br />
Sub-criterion A4<br />
past & future<br />
Present<br />
10 years or 3 generations <strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)<br />
(whichever is longer, up <strong>to</strong> a maximim of 100 years in <strong>the</strong> future)<br />
including some time in <strong>the</strong> past AND in <strong>the</strong> future
Sub-criterion A4<br />
past & future: “shifting time window”<br />
10 years 10 / 3 years generations 10 / 3 years generations / 3 generations<br />
6.65 years 3.3 / 2 years 1.5 / 1 3.356.6 years years / / 11.5<br />
/ 2<br />
generations generation<br />
generations<br />
Present<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
For ALL <strong>the</strong> criteria (A1–A4), rate of population<br />
reduction should be based on any of:<br />
(a) Direct observation (not for sub-criterion A3 – future reduction)<br />
(b) An index of abundance appropriate <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> taxon.<br />
(c) A decline in:<br />
• area of occupancy;<br />
• extent of occurrence; and/or<br />
• quality of habitat.<br />
(d) Actual or potential levels of exploitation.<br />
(e) The effects of:<br />
• introduced taxa<br />
• hybridization<br />
• pathogens<br />
• pollutants<br />
• competi<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
• parasites<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Criterion A<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Criterion B<br />
Restricted geographic range and<br />
fragmentation, continuing decline or extreme<br />
fluctuations<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Criterion B<br />
Based on ei<strong>the</strong>r of two sub-criteria:<br />
B1: Estimated extent of occurrence<br />
AND / OR<br />
B2: Estimated area of occupancy<br />
AND at least TWO of a-c:<br />
a. Severely fragmented or few locations<br />
b. Continuing decline<br />
c. Extreme fluctuations<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Criterion B<br />
Subcriterion B1<br />
Extent of occurrence<br />
estimated <strong>to</strong> be:<br />
Subcriterion B2<br />
Area of occupancy<br />
estimated <strong>to</strong> be:<br />
CR<br />
EN<br />
VU<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Criterion B<br />
AND at least TWO of a, b or c:<br />
CR<br />
EN<br />
a. Severely<br />
fragmented or<br />
# locations:<br />
VU ≤ 10<br />
b. Continuing decline in<br />
any of <strong>the</strong> following:<br />
(i) EOO<br />
(ii) AOO<br />
(iii) Area, extent and/or<br />
quality of habitat<br />
(iv) # locations or<br />
subpopulations<br />
(v) # mature individuals<br />
c. Extreme fluctuation in<br />
any of <strong>the</strong> following:<br />
(i) EOO<br />
(ii) AOO<br />
(iii) # locations or<br />
subpopulations<br />
(iv) # mature individuals<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Criterion B<br />
Points <strong>to</strong> remember:<br />
• Subcriterion B1 is based on extent of occurrence, while subcriterion<br />
B2 is based on area of occupancy.<br />
• Ei<strong>the</strong>r subcriteria B1 or B2, or both may apply.<br />
• To fully qualify for a listing under criterion B, <strong>the</strong> taxon must meet at<br />
least two of <strong>the</strong> subcriteria a, b or c. (fragmentation, decline, fluctuation)<br />
• Subcriterion B1a / B2a may be based on ei<strong>the</strong>r severe fragmentation<br />
OR number of locations – please remember <strong>the</strong> definitions of <strong>the</strong>se<br />
terms when applying <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Popondetta Blue-eye (<br />
Pseudomugil connieae)<br />
Vulnerable B1ab(iii)<br />
Justification:<br />
Assessed as Vulnerable due <strong>to</strong> its restricted extent of occurrence,<br />
which is 15,927 km². This species occurs in only three locations, (three<br />
river systems). Two of <strong>the</strong>se locations are threatened by urban<br />
encroachment. In addition, P. connieae is threatened by a continuing<br />
decline in habitat quality, due <strong>to</strong> logging, and an increase in agriculture<br />
and urbanization in <strong>the</strong> region of Popondetta.<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Subcriterion B1<br />
Extent of occurrence<br />
estimated <strong>to</strong> be:<br />
Subcriterion B2<br />
Area of occupancy<br />
estimated <strong>to</strong> be:<br />
CR<br />
EN<br />
VU<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
AND at least TWO of a, b or c:<br />
CR<br />
EN<br />
a. Severely<br />
fragmented or<br />
# locations:<br />
VU ≤ 10<br />
b. Continuing decline in<br />
any of <strong>the</strong> following:<br />
(i) EOO<br />
(ii) AOO<br />
(iii) Area, extent and/or<br />
quality of habitat<br />
(iv) # locations or<br />
subpopulations<br />
(v) # mature individuals<br />
c. Extreme fluctuation in<br />
any of <strong>the</strong> following:<br />
(i) EOO<br />
(ii) AOO<br />
(iii) # locations or<br />
subpopulations<br />
(iv) # mature individuals<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> (International Union for Conservation of Nature)