Why in News?
India has launched a National Red List Assessment — the first-ever nationwide survey to assess the extinction risk of nearly 11,000 species of plants and animals. The exercise aims to provide a science-based, accurate national inventory of species and their conservation status.
Description:
| Feature | Details |
| Name of the Initiative | National Red List Assessment of Indian Flora and Fauna |
| Launched by | Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) |
| Implemented by | Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Botanical Survey of India (BSI) |
| Total Species to be Assessed | Around 11,000 species (plants + animals) |
| Duration | Up to 2030 |
| Funding | Entirely publicly funded (budget: ₹95 crore) |
| Model Used | IUCN Red List methodology (international standard) |
| Goal | To publish National Red Data Books on flora and fauna by 2030 |
| Assessors | Creation of a pool of 300 certified Red List assessors in India |
| Lead Official (2025) | Kirtivardhan Singh, MoS Environment |
| Associated Convention | Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) |
| Global Framework Alignment | Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) |
| Announcement Venue | IUCN World Conservation Congress, Abu Dhabi (2025) |
Objectives of the Project:
- Develop an indigenous Red Listing System following IUCN standards.
- Assess the vulnerability and extinction risk of Indian species.
- Support biodiversity conservation planning and policy formulation.
- Build national expertise in species risk assessment.
- Publish India’s National Red Data Books (by 2030).
What is a “Red List Survey”?
- A systematic study to evaluate each species based on:
- Population trends
- Habitat range
- Threat factors (habitat loss, climate change, poaching, pollution, etc.)
- Conservation measures in place
- Uses quantitative criteria identical to those of the IUCN Red List, ensuring global comparability.
Why This Matters for India?
- India is a megadiverse country, home to ~7–8% of all recorded species globally.
- Until now, the country depended mainly on IUCN global data or Wildlife Protection Act schedules, not a nationally verified extinction-risk list.
- The National Red List will:
- Fill data gaps on Indian species.
- Help prioritize conservation and funding.
- Guide environmental clearances & biodiversity impact assessments.
- Strengthen India’s reporting under CBD & Global Biodiversity Targets.
Expected Outcomes by 2030:
- Publication of National Red Data Books (Flora + Fauna).
- Creation of central biodiversity database for India.
- Enhanced capacity building — 300 certified experts.
- Better integration of biodiversity data into policy & planning.
- Alignment with Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (Goal A & B) on species protection.
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2025 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
◉ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040
