1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals

Foreword

The Red List of Threatened Animals is a warning flag, signalling for global attention to the perilous status of many species. In its approach, this Red List is different from all its predecessors and the existing Red Data books. It employs a more rigorous system for assessing degree of threat of extinction, a system reflecting current knowledge in population biology in relation to conservation concerns. This more objective approach should help focus attention on the causative factors behind the diminished geographic ranges, declining populations, and small numbers that characterize endangerment in many species.

The Red List is incomplete because of our ignorance of the vast majority of life forms on the planet, most of them invertebrates and other microfauna. Nevertheless, the status of the larger species covered by the Red List is indicative of the circumstances for many smaller species that occupy the same environments as the larger species. In this connection, a notable achievement in preparation of this edition of the Red List was review of all species of mammals. Thanks to this work and to the prior work of BirdLife International, two classes of vertebrates have now been assessed. It is of significance for conservation planning and action that the less vagile group, the mammals, has proportionately more species at risk of extinction than the birds.

The observations above reflect very considerable accomplishments. First, the development of the new system for categorizing threats was a formidable task. Led by Georgina Mace, the effort involved hundreds of consultations and much debate over several years before there was a product suitable for adoption by IUCN-The World Conservation Union. The conservation community is truly indebted to Dr. Mace and her many collaborators for their work. Second, the application of the new system to species on prior lists and to other species was also a daunting undertaking. Many Specialist Groups of the Species Survival Commission and BirdLife International carried out this work. Jonathan Baillie gave crucial attention to coordination and instruction of this work, and his service deserves the gratitude of conservationists everywhere.

Most conservation actions are carried out in national contexts, and going forward, the new approach to categorizing conservation status needs to be adapted for use at the national level. The IUCN is encouraging the development of National Biodiversity Conservation Groups, and it is important that they be suitably equipped with cogent information in directing their efforts to effect conservation of endemic species.

As biological gauges of endangerment, the Red Lists of species should be considered as calls for attention to causal factors. The causes of endangerment range from habitat destruction and overharvesting to pollution and introduction of invasive species. Thoroughgoing review of the Red List in relation to these proximate causes may help focus relevant research, education, training, and policy development within the IUCN networks and the conservation community generally. In turn, such work can inform and inspire appropriate governmental and social actions to stem the loss of biological diversity illustrated so explicitly by this Red List. Looking ahead, such responsiveness will be obligatory if we are to deal at all adequately with global change phenomena that are impacting the long term survival prospects for ecosystems and their distinctive complements of species.

George B. Rabb SSC Chair

© 1996 IUCN. Reprinted from the 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals.