Part 1 - English version (PDF) - Convention on Biological Diversity

Overview of Biodiversity: Status, Trends and Threats
The global estimates as per IUCN Red List, 2008 suggest that 10% (5,966 species) of vertebrate and
0.20% (2,496 species) of invertebrate described fauna is threatened. The number of globally threatened
species has shown an increasing trend in recent years. For example, species of vertebrate threatened fauna
has increased from 3314 in 1996-98 to 3507 in 2000, 3521 in 2002, 3524 in 2003, and to 5622 in 2006.
In the Indian context, the number of species under different categories of threat has also shown an
increase in recent years (Figure 1.4).
Figure 1.4: India - change in threatened species in 2004 and 2008
In 2004, one species, Megaptera novaeangliae, showed an upward trend of population while eleven
species showed stable populations. Further, of the total 447 threatened species, for which trends are
available, 218 are showing decreasing trend of population as per the 2004 status (Table 1.7). The 2008
report, however, indicates upward population trend of one-horned rhinoceros in the country, as a result,
the threat category has improved from endangered to vulnerable.
Table 1.7: Population trends in threatened Indian species (IUCN Red list 2004)
Group Threatened No change Upwards or Downwards or Indeterminate Trends not
or stable improving decreasing available
Mammals 213 4 1 47 87 74
Birds 149 2 - 80 10 57
Reptiles 033 - - 2 2 29
Amphibia 148 5 - 68 73 2
Pisces 75 - - 21 42 12
Crustacea 12 - - - - 12
Mollusca 5 - - - 1 4
Hymenoptera 5 - - - - 5
Lepidoptera 4 - - - 1 4
Odonata 3 - - - 1 3
Anoplura 1 - - - - 1
Total 648 11 1 218 217 201
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