IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Wildlife in a Changing World presents an analysis of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Beginning with an explanation of the IUCN Red List as a key conservation tool, it goes on to discuss the state of the worlds species and provides the latest information on the patterns of species facing extinction in some of the most important ecosystems in the world, highlighting the reasons behind their declining status. Areas of focus in the report include: freshwater biodiversity, the status of the worlds marine species, species susceptibility to climate change impacts, the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, and broadening the coverage of biodiversity assessments.
 

What is The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species?
What information is included for each species?
How is The IUCN Red List compiled?
What species are included in The IUCN Red List?

The variety of species existing today is a product of 3.5 billion years of evolution, involving radiation, speciation, extinction and, more recently, the impacts of people. Current estimates of the number of species range from 5 to 30 million, with a best working estimate of 8 to 14 million; of these, only around 1.8 million have been described.
 

The diversity of species in freshwater habitats is disproportionately high as compared to other ecosystems. Freshwater habitats cover less than 1% of the world’s surface, yet they provide a home for over 25% of all described vertebrates, more than 126,000 known animal species, and approximately 2,600 macrophyte plants.

The oceans are home to a large percentage of Earth’s biodiversity, occupying 70 percent of its surface and, when volume is considered, an even larger percentage of habitable space. However, there is growing concern that a broad range of marine species are under increased risk of extinction and that marine biodiversity is experiencing potentially irreversible loss due to a number of threats that include over-fi shing, bycatch, climate change, invasive species and coastal development.

To date, major conservation decisions and species-based indicators of biodiversity change have only included data on a restricted subset of species, and do not take into consideration the majority of biodiversity. A new approach has been developed that takes a large random sample of particular species groups – just as when forecasting election results, a poll of voters is taken.

There is growing evidence that climate change will become one of the major drivers of species extinctions in the 21st Century.

The Mediterranean basin is recognised as a biodiversity hotspot: its flora diversity is outstanding with 15,000 to 25,000 species, 60% of which are unique to the region. About one third of the Mediterranean fauna is endemic. 

IUCN has access to many different kinds of information on species, ranging from the global assessments provided by The Red List of Threatened Species through to local case studies on particular species. The IUCN Species Survival Commission, together with the Species Programme and their partners have developed a number of species-based indicators, each of which uses a different approach to build up a picture of status and trends in species and biodiversity at global, regional and national scales.

The IUCN Red List is a tool for the private sector to effectively evaluate and address potential operational threats to biodiversity. The IUCN Red List can be used directly by the private sector in different stages of a project lifecycle. The IUCN Red List can be used to identify potential risks and opportunities early in the selection of an investment project. Once the project is defined and approved, the IUCN Red List can be used to develop biodiversity management and rehabilitation plans.