IUCN Red List Guidelines - The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
IUCN Red List Guidelines - The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
IUCN Red List Guidelines - The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
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<strong>Red</strong> <strong>List</strong> <strong>Guidelines</strong> 4<br />
1. Introduction<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>IUCN</strong> <strong>Red</strong> <strong>List</strong> Categories and Criteria were first published in 1994 following six years<br />
<strong>of</strong> research and broad consultation (<strong>IUCN</strong> 1994). <strong>The</strong> 1994 <strong>IUCN</strong> Categories and Criteria<br />
were developed to improve objectivity and transparency in assessing the conservation status<br />
<strong>of</strong> species, and therefore to improve consistency and understanding among users. <strong>The</strong> 1994<br />
categories and criteria were applied to a large number <strong>of</strong> species in compiling the 1996 <strong>Red</strong><br />
<strong>List</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Threatened</strong> Animals. <strong>The</strong> assessment <strong>of</strong> many species for the 1996 <strong>Red</strong> <strong>List</strong> drew<br />
attention to certain areas <strong>of</strong> difficulty, which led <strong>IUCN</strong> to initiate a review <strong>of</strong> the 1994<br />
categories and criteria, which was undertaken during 1998 to 1999. This review was<br />
completed and the <strong>IUCN</strong> <strong>Red</strong> <strong>List</strong> Categories and Criteria (version 3.1) are now published<br />
(<strong>IUCN</strong> 2001).<br />
This document provides guidelines to the application <strong>of</strong> version 3.1 <strong>of</strong> the categories and<br />
criteria, and in so doing addresses many <strong>of</strong> the issues raised in the process <strong>of</strong> reviewing the<br />
1994 categories and criteria. This document explains how the criteria should be applied to<br />
determine whether a taxon belongs in a category <strong>of</strong> threat, and gives examples from different<br />
taxonomic groups to illustrate the application <strong>of</strong> the criteria. <strong>The</strong>se guidelines also provide<br />
detailed explanations <strong>of</strong> the definitions <strong>of</strong> the many terms used in the criteria. <strong>The</strong> guidelines<br />
should be used in conjunction with the <strong>of</strong>ficial <strong>IUCN</strong> <strong>Red</strong> <strong>List</strong> Categories and Criteria<br />
booklet (<strong>IUCN</strong> 2001).<br />
We expect to review and update these guidelines periodically, and input from all users <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>IUCN</strong> <strong>Red</strong> <strong>List</strong> Categories and Criteria are welcome. We especially welcome <strong>IUCN</strong><br />
Specialist Groups and <strong>Red</strong> <strong>List</strong> Authorities to submit examples that are illustrative <strong>of</strong> these<br />
guidelines. We expect that the changes to these guidelines will be mostly additions <strong>of</strong> detail<br />
and not changes in substance. In addition, we do not expect the <strong>IUCN</strong> <strong>Red</strong> <strong>List</strong> Criteria to be<br />
revised in the near future, because a stable system is necessary to allow comparisons over<br />
time.<br />
2. An Outline <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Red</strong> <strong>List</strong> Categories and Criteria<br />
2.1 Taxonomic level and scope <strong>of</strong> the categorization process<br />
2.1.1 Taxonomic scale <strong>of</strong> categorization<br />
<strong>The</strong> criteria may be applied to any taxonomic unit at or below the species level. In these<br />
guidelines, the terms ‘taxon’ and ‘taxa’ are used to represent species or lower taxonomic<br />
levels, including forms that are not yet fully described. <strong>The</strong>re is sufficient range among the<br />
different criteria to enable appropriate listing <strong>of</strong> taxa from the complete taxonomic spectrum,<br />
with the exception <strong>of</strong> micro-organisms. In presenting the results <strong>of</strong> applying criteria, the<br />
taxonomic unit used (species, subspecies, etc.) should be specified. It should be noted that<br />
taxa below the rank <strong>of</strong> variety (e.g., forma, morph, cultivar), are NOT included on the <strong>IUCN</strong><br />
<strong>Red</strong> <strong>List</strong>, with the exception <strong>of</strong> assessments <strong>of</strong> subpopulations. Before assessments <strong>of</strong> taxa<br />
below the species level (subspecies, variety or subpopulation) can be included on the <strong>IUCN</strong><br />
<strong>Red</strong> <strong>List</strong>, an assessment <strong>of</strong> the full species is also required.