The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization working in nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. It is involved in data gathering, research, field projects, lobbying and education. It is best known for compiling and publishing the Red List which assesses the conservation status of species worldwide. IUCN's mission is to influence societies to conserve nature and ensure sustainable use of natural resources.

2. • The International Union For Conservation Of Nature And Natural
Resources (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of
nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
• It is involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field projects, lobbying
and education.
• Best known for compiling and publishing Red list : accesses the conservation
status of species worldwide.
• IUCN's mission is to "influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the
world to conserve nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is
equitable and ecologically sustainable”.

3. 1947
1948
1961
2012
1964
1949
1956
Took part in setting up
World wild life fund
(now WWF)
IUPN (international Union for
protection of nature) formed
IUPN and UNESCO jointly
organized conference on
protection of nature
Changed the name to
International Union for
conservation of nature and
natural resources
International conference on
protection of nature in
Brunnen
Red data book on the
conservation status of
species was first published
IUCN publishes the list of
world’s 100 most
threatened species

4. 1066 NGOs
16151 experts in
commissions
161 countries
HEADQUARTERS:
Gland, Switzerland

5. • IUCN will reach these three objectives through work with the global
IUCN member network and its partners.

6.  India a mega diverse country accounts for 7-8% of all recorded species.
 Over 45,968 species of plants and 91,364 species of animals.
 4 of 34 globally identified biodiversity hotspots: The Himalayas, the
Western Ghats, the North-East, and the Nicobar Islands in India.
 India became a State Member of IUCN in 1969, through the Ministry of
Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
 The IUCN India Country Office was established in 2007 in New Delhi.

7.  The IUCN Red list of threatened species is also known as the IUCN
Red list or Red data list.
 IUCN Red list was founded in 1964, is the world's most comprehensive
inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.
 The IUCN is the world's main authority on the conservation status of
species.
 A series of regional red lists are produced by countries or organizations,
which assess the risk of extinction
 The IUCN Red list is set upon precise criteria to evaluate
the extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies.

8. According to IUCN (1996), the formally stated goals of the Red List are
(1) To provide scientifically based information on the status of species and subspecies at a
global level.
(2) To draw attention toward the importance of threatened biodiversity.
(3) To provide information to guide actions to conserve biological diversity.
Category Total no. of Species in world
Extinct 868
Extinct in the wild 78
Critically endangered 5176
Endangered 7705
Vulnerable 11654
Near threatened 4406
Least concern 36952
Total 82065

9. SPECIES 2008 2013 2014
Mammals 96 95 96
Fishes 40 213 216
Birds 76 80 82
Mollusks 2 6 7
Reptiles 25 52 53
Other inverts 109 128 128
Amphibians 65 74 74
Plants 246 325 332
Total 659 973 988

10. • Species are classified by the IUCN Red list into nine groups, set through
criteria such as rate of decline, population size, area of geographic
distribution, and degree of population and distribution fragmentation.

11.  A species is Extinct when the last existing member dies.
 The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of
the last individual of the species.
 Total 868 species Extinct in the world.

12.  "Extinct in the Wild" (EW) Species listed under this status by IUCN are not
known to have any living specimens in the wild, and are maintained only
in zoos or other artificial environments.
 When possible, modern zoological institutions try to maintain a viable
population for species preservation and possible future reintroduction to the
wild, through use of carefully planned breeding programs.
 Total 78 species Extinct in the wild in world.

13. • A Critically endangered (cr) species is one which has been categorized by
the IUCN as facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
• Total 5176 species critically endangered in the world.
• As of September 2016, the IUCN lists 455 Critically endangered fish species
• The important criteria are :
• (a) an observed estimated, inferred or suspected reduction of at least 80 % over
at least 10 year or 3 generation.
(b) population estimated to number less than 250 mature individuals.

14. • A taxon is endangered when it is not critically endangered but it is facing a
very high risk of extinction in the wild in a near future.
• 7705 species are endangered worldwide.
The important criteria are :
(a) an observed, estimated , inferred or suspected reduction of at least 50 %
over at least 10 years or 3 generation.
(b) population estimated to number less than 2,500 mature individuals .

15. • A taxon is vulnerable when it is not critically endangered or
endangered but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the
medium term future .
• Total 11654 species are Vulnerable world wide.
• The important criteria are :
(a) an observed ,estimated, inferred, or suspected reduction of at least
20 % over at least 10 year or 3 generation.
(b) population estimated to number less than 10,000 mature individual.

16. • Taxa which are not presently endangered or vulnerable but can become
Rare because of small population usually located in restricted scattered
over a more extensive range .

17. • Taxa included in the lower risk category can be separated in to three sub
categories :
• 1) Conservation dependent ( lr-cd ) : Taxa which would qualify for
threatened categories within five year it is known as conservation
dependent.
• 2) Near threatened (lr-nt) : Taxa which do not qualify for conservation
dependent, but which are close to qualifying for vulnerable.
• 3) Least concern (lr-lc ) : Taxa which do not qualify for conservation
dependent or near threatened.

18. • Known ,but appropriate data on abundance and /or distribution is lacking.
• Listing a taxon is data deficient (dd) when there is inadequate information to
make a direct or indirect assessment of its of extinction based on its
distribution and / or population status .
• Not evaluated (NE) : A taxon is not evaluated (ne), when it has not yet been
assessed against the criteria .

19. • IUCN protected area categories, or IUCN protected area management
categories, are categories used to classify protected areas in a system
developed by the international union for conservation of nature
(IUCN).
• The enlisting of such areas is part of a strategy being used toward the
conservation of the world's natural environment and biodiversity.
the IUCN has developed the protected area management categories
system to define, record, and classify the wide variety of specific aims
and concerns when categorizing protected areas and their objectives.

20. • A strict nature reserve (IUCN category IA) is an area which is
protected from all but light human use in order to preserve the
geological and geo morphological features of the region and its
biodiversity.
• These areas are often home to dense native ecosystems that are
restricted from all human disturbance outside of scientific study,
environmental monitoring and education.

21. • A Wilderness area (IUCN category IB) is similar to a strict nature
reserve, but generally larger and protected in a slightly less stringent
manner.
• These are areas which may buffer against the effects of climate change
and protect threatened species and ecological communities.

22. • National parks are managed in a way that may contribute to local
economies through promoting educational and recreational tourism on
a scale that will not reduce the effectiveness of conservation efforts.
• National parks are areas reserved for wild life where they can freely
use the habitats and natural resources.
• No grazing of any livestock shall also be permitted inside a national
park.
• Commercial exploitation of natural resources is strictly prohibited.

23. • A Natural monument is a natural or natural/cultural feature of outstanding or
unique value because of its inherent rarity, representative of aesthetic qualities or
cultural significance.
• “Areas are set aside to protect a specific natural monument, which can be a
landform, sea mount, submarine cavern, geological feature such as a cave or even a
living feature such as an ancient grove.
• They are generally quite small protected areas and often have high visitor value .

24. • Habitat or species management area (IUCN category IV) is similar to a natural
monument or feature, but focuses on more specific areas of conservation, like
an identifiable species or habitat that requires continuous protection rather
than that of a natural feature.
• These protected areas will be sufficiently controlled to ensure the
maintenance, conservation, and restoration of particular species and habitats –
possibly through traditional means – and public education of such areas is
widely encouraged as part of the management objectives.

25. • IUCN category v protected landscape and protected seascape — area covers
entire bodies of land or ocean with a more explicit management plan in the
interest of nature conservation, but is more likely to include a range of for-
profit activities.
• Category v—protected landscapes and seascapes allow a higher level of
interaction with surrounding communities who are able to contribute to the
areas management and engage with the natural and cultural heritage it
embodies through a sustainable outlook.

26. • Though human involvement is a large factor in the management of
these protected areas, developments are not intended to allow for wide
scale industrial production.
• The IUCN recommends that a proportion of the land mass remains in
its natural condition – a decision to be made on a national level,
usually with specificity to each protected area.