IUCN List-Endangered Species & Red Data Book for UPSC Preparation

The IUCN is important for UPSC as it covers biodiversity conservation, red list species, environmental governance, and global treaties. It links static concepts with current affairs, helping in Prelims, Mains, and Essay papers on environment and sustainability.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world’s oldest and largest global network working for nature conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources. 

• Establishment: It was founded in 1948 in Fontainebleau, France, as the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN) and was later renamed IUCN in 1956.
• Headquarters: Located in Gland, Switzerland.
• Mission: To conserve, restore, and manage nature sustainably through global cooperation.
• Red list: Publisher of the IUCN Red List, the authoritative guide on species’ extinction risk.
• Global Presence: Operates in 160+ countries with regional offices, including New Delhi for South Asia.

IUCN aims to influence, encourage, and assist societies to conserve nature and ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.

• Assess the status of species, habitats, and ecosystems.
• Provide scientific data, analyses, and recommendations.
• Promote best practices for conservation and sustainable development.
• Foster partnerships between governments, NGOs, and local communities.
• Advise on policy and legal frameworks for nature protection.

Also read: Soils of India: Classification, Significance & Recent Crisis

The IUCN Red List is the global gold standard for assessing species’ extinction risk and guiding conservation policies. 

The ICUN Red List uses five scientific criteria based on population and quantitative data to ensure objective, consistent species assessments worldwide.

• Geographic Range: Evaluation of species distribution area and habitat extent of occurrence.
• Population Size: Analysis of mature individual counts and breeding population estimates.
• Population Decline: Assessment of reduction rates over specific time periods or generations.
• Population Fragmentation: Evaluation of habitat connectivity and subpopulation isolation.
• Extinction Probability: Quantitative analysis using mathematical models predicting extinction risk.

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India’s rich biodiversity is under serious threat, with many species listed as endangered by the IUCN, needing urgent protection to prevent extinction. Here is the list of such threatened species.

1. Critically Endangered Species in India

India has many Critically Endangered species under IUCN, facing imminent extinction without urgent conservation.

Birds (CE)

• Great Indian Bustard: Ardeotis nigriceps - fewer than 200 individuals remaining, threatened by power line collisions and habitat loss.
• Bengal Florican: Houbaropsis bengalensis - grassland specialist facing agricultural expansion and hunting pressure.
• Siberian Crane: Leucogeranus leucogeranus - migratory species affected by wetland destruction along flyway routes.
• White-bellied Heron: Ardea insignis - riverine species threatened by dam construction and fishing activities.

Mammalian Species (CE)

• Pygmy Hog: Smallest wild pig species endemic to Assam grasslands.
• Malabar Civet: Endemic to the Western Ghats, facing severe habitat fragmentation.
• Namdapha Flying Squirrel: Found only in Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh.

Reptiles (CE)

• Gharial: Gavialis gangeticus - freshwater crocodilian with fewer than 200 breeding adults.
• Hawksbill Turtle: Marine species threatened by plastic pollution and illegal trade.
• River Terrapin: Freshwater turtle facing habitat destruction.

2. Endangered Species in India

Endangered species represent the second-highest conservation priority, requiring urgent protection measures to prevent advancement to critically endangered status.

Mammals (EN)

• Asian Elephant: Elephas maximus - the largest land mammal facing habitat fragmentation and human-elephant conflict.
• Bengal Tiger: Panthera tigris - national animal with approximately 2,226 individuals, threatened by poaching and habitat loss.
• Asiatic Lion: Panthera leo persica - confined to Gujarat's Gir Forest with around 600 individuals.
• Red Panda: Ailurus fulgens - Himalayan species facing a 50% population decline due to bamboo forest destruction.
• Nilgiri Tahr: Mountain goat endemic to Western Ghats with 2,500-3,000 individuals remaining.
  Lion-tailed Macaque: Endemic primate of Western Ghats rainforests.

Marine Species (EN)

• Ganges River Dolphin: Platanista gangetica - freshwater dolphin threatened by river pollution and dam construction.
• Blue Whale: The Largest marine mammal found in the Indian Ocean waters.

3. Vulnerable Species in India 

Vulnerable species face high extinction risk and represent important conservation targets for maintaining ecosystem stability and biodiversity.

Important Species (VU)

• One-horned Rhinoceros: Rhinoceros unicornis - population recovery success story in Kaziranga National Park.
• Snow Leopard: Panthera uncia - high-altitude predator threatened by climate change and retaliatory killing.
• Indian Bison (Gaur): Bos gaurus - the largest wild bovine facing hunting pressure and disease transmission.
• Sloth Bear: Melursus ursinus - threatened by habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.
• Great Hornbill: Buceros bicornis - a large frugivorous bird threatened by hunting and deforestation.
• Mugger Crocodile: Freshwater crocodilian recovering through conservation programs.

The IUCN Red List plays a key role in global and national conservation, with important policy implications, making it vital for UPSC Environment & Ecology preparation.

• National Biodiversity Plans: Countries use Red List data to make action plans and recovery programs for species.
• International Treaties: Red List status helps decide trade rules (CITES) and global conservation agreements.
• Protected Areas: Guides the creation and management of national parks, sanctuaries, and reserves.
• Research Funding: Conservation research funding is given priority based on Red List rankings.
• Environmental Clearance: Development projects must check if Red List species are affected before approval.

Some Indian species have shown better IUCN status due to successful conservation efforts, highlighting effective strategies useful for UPSC policy analysis.

1. Project Tiger

• Project Tiger was launched in 1973, leading to the tiger population recovery from 1,800 to over 3682 individuals through habitat protection and anti-poaching measures.

2. One-horned Rhinoceros

• The population of One-horned rhinos increased from 75 individuals in 1905 to over 2,613 today through strict protection in Kaziranga (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Orang National Parks.

3. Asiatic Lion

• The population of Asiatic lions grew from 20 individuals in 1913 to over 674 in 2020 through comprehensive conservation in Gir National Park.

4. Project Elephant

• Project Elephant established elephant corridors and reduced human-elephant conflict through community participation.

Also read: National Parks in India for UPSC: Complete List and Key Facts

Modern conservation under the IUCN framework requires adaptive strategies to address rising challenges. Here is the list of Key Conservation Threats:

• Climate Change: Shifting temperatures due to climate change and precipitation patterns affect species distribution and habitat suitability.
• Habitat Fragmentation: Infrastructure development creates isolated populations, reducing genetic diversity.
• Invasive Species: Non-native species disrupt ecosystem balance and threaten endemic fauna.
• Pollution: Chemical contamination and plastic pollution affect marine and freshwater ecosystems.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict: Expanding human settlements increase negative interactions with wildlife.

The IUCN Red List is the world’s key tool to track and prevent species extinctions. For UPSC, it is important to understand environmental policy, conservation, and sustainability. The future of India’s wildlife depends on turning Red List data into real conservation action.

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