Technical Documents

The IUCN Red List Index

Red List Indices have been produced which chart overall changes in the threat status of the world's birds and amphibians, the two groups that have been completely assessed. These are based on the number of species that moved between categories as a result of genuine changes in threat status (excluding moves resulting from improved knowledge or taxonomic changes). The IUCN Red List Programme will improve the taxonomic coverage of the Red List Indices in the coming years as they are central to monitoring the progress of global efforts to reduce biodiversity loss. Click the thumbnail on the left for further information on the SRLI ( 228 KB).

• Measuring Global Trends in the Status of Biodiversity: Red List Indices for Birds (Butchart et al. 2004) - paper published in PloS Biology
• Using Red List Indices To Measure Progress Towards the 2010 Target and Beyond (Butchart et al. 2005) - paper published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society

IUCN Red List process

• The IUCN Red List Process
• The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (version 3.1) (published in 2001) is available in English ( 283 KB), Français ( 314 KB) and Español ( 327 KB)
• Guidelines for using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria Version 6.2 (Dec 2006)
  (508 KB) – this document provides further guidance on how to apply the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Please note that these guidelines are reviewed annually and users should check this web site to ensure that they have the current version of the guidelines before carrying out Red List assessments.
• Criterion A examples workbook – This Excel file has two worksheets related to calculation of population reduction under IUCN Red List Criteria A1-A4. These examples are intended for use in conjunction with the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (version 3.1) and the associated guidelines document.
• Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional Levels
• Authority Files - used for the documentation standards described in Annex 3 of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (version 3.1)
• Authority File Descriptors - definitions for the Authority File terms in the questionnaire (117 KB)
• New Classification schemes for threats and conservation actions The threats and conservation actions authority files have been extensively revised and the new classifications have been adopted. Work is underway to incorporate these into the SIS Data Entry Module and to transfer current authority file data across to the new schemes. The classification schemes will come into effect once this work is completed.
• Red List Questionnaire ( 493 KB) - assists Specialist Group members and others wanting to submit assessments to the IUCN Red List. This file can be used as a template to take you through the Red List documentation requirements (including the Authority Files). The form can be completed (one form per species) electronically and sent as an attachment by e-mail to the Red List Programme at redlist@ssc-uk.org.
• The IUCN Red List Petitions Process
• Plant Talk magazine - Applying the Red List Categories to plants

Criteria review process

• Criteria Review Scoping workshop report (2-3 March 1998, London, UK)
• Marine workshop report(16-17 January 1999, Tokyo, Japan)
• Criterion B: Range Areas and Uncertainty Workshop report (3-5 May 1999, Sydney, Australia)
• Draft of the proposed changes and recommendations (article in Species issue 31/32, 1999)

Regional Guidelines process

• Analysis of the Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at the National Level: report from the ational Red List Advisory Group Workshop (21-26 January 2005, Venezuela) ( 481 KB)
• Use of the IUCN Red List Criteria in national threatened species listing: Original survey ; Survey report

IUCN and SSC Regional and National Office Red List websites

• IUCN Regional Office for South America (Español)
• IUCN Country Office - Pakistan