India's National Red List Assessment Initiative

Summary of Key Points on India's National Red List Assessment Initiative

Project Overview:

• Title: National Red List Assessment of Indian Flora and Fauna.
• Objective: Assess vulnerabilities of approximately 11,000 species of plants and animals in India up to 2030.
• Methodology: Follows guidelines of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, aimed at establishing a coordinated, science-based system for conservation.

Goals and Deliverables:

• Creation of National Red Data Books by 2030.
• Publishing peer-reviewed assessments and thematic publications.
• Development of a user-friendly online database.
• Formation of a pool of 300 certified assessors to enhance national capacity in conservation.

Government and Institutional Involvement:

• Ministerial Oversight: Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for Environment, emphasized the initiative's alignment with national commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF).
• Collaborating Organizations: Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), IUCN India, and other conservation entities involved in assessment efforts.

Funding and Budget:

• Total estimated budget: ₹95 crore.
  • ₹80 crore from BSI and ZSI.
  • ₹15 crore allocated for training, workshops, and external capacity-building efforts mobilized by IUCN India and CSS: India - WTI.

Global Context:

• IUCN Red List as a global standard currently assesses 169,420 species with plans to assess 94,000 additional species and reassess 142,000 by 2030.
• The Living Planet Report 2024 indicates significant declines in global biodiversity:
  • 73% decrease in the average population of 5,495 vertebrate species (1970-2020).
  • 85% decline in freshwater species.
  • Over 40% of plant species face extinction.
  • Current extinction rates are 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than historical averages.

Importance:

This initiative is significant for informed conservation measures and environmental policy, aiming to tackle the critical decline in biodiversity and promote sustainable ecosystems in India.