IUCN Red List System

Conservation & Biodiversity 1964

Discoverers: IUCN

Overview

Establishment of a standardised system for assessing and classifying the extinction risk of species worldwide, from Least Concern to Extinct.

Significance

Created the global standard for conservation assessment, providing an objective framework that underpins legislation, policy, and resource allocation.

Methodology

Expert-driven assessment using quantitative criteria including population size, rate of decline, geographic range, and fragmentation.

Impact