IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1 – The current version of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. This is the main rule-book for assessing the extinction risk of species for inclusion on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria – Detailed guidance on how to apply the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, including explanations of the terms used in the criteria and advice on applying the criteria to different taxonomic groups. These guidelines are regularly updated and assessors are strongly advised to check they have the current version of the guidelines before embarking on extinction risk assessments. The guidelines mention the availability of two workbooks for making some of the calculatings required in an assessments, available here:
- Excel workbook for calculating Generation Length.
- Excel workbook for calculating population reduction under criterion A.
Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels – Guidance on how to apply the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria at sub-global levels for use in preparing regional or national Red Lists (also available in Français and Español).
Documentation Standards and Consistency Checks for IUCN Red List Assessments and Species Accounts - This document provides guidance on the documentation standards for Red List assessments and consistency checks that should be carried out before submitting assessments for inclusion in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. These guidance notes are particularly relevant to entering information into the IUCN Species Information Service (SIS) and should be used for reference when preparing Red List assessment accounts. Please note that this is a working document and will be updated - users should check these pages regularly for new versions.

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Analyses of the IUCN Red List:

Hoffmann, M., Hilton-Taylor, C., Angulo, A., Böhm, M., Brooks, T.M., Butchart, S.H.M., Carpenter, K.E., Chanson, J., Collen, B., Cox, N.A., Darwall, W.R.T., Dulvy, N.K., Harrison, L.R., Katariya, V., Pollock, C.M., Quader, S., Richman, N.I., Rodrigues, A.S.L., Tognelli, M.F., Vié, J-C., Aguiar, J.M., Allen, D.J., Allen, G.R., Amori, G., Ananjeva, N.B., Andreone, F., Andrew, P., Ortiz, A.L.A., Baillie, J.E.M., Baldi, R., Bell, B.D., Biju, S.D., Bird, J.P., Black-Decima, P., Blanc, J.J., Bolano, F., Bolivar-G, W., Burfield, I.J., Burton, J.A., Capper, D.R., Castro, F., Catullo, G., Cavanagh, R.D., Channing, A., Chao, N.L., Chenery, A.M., Chiozza, F., Clausnitzer, V., Collar, N.J., Collett, L.C., Collette, B.B., Cortez Fernandez, C.F., Craig, M.T., Crosby, M.J., Cumberlidge, N., Cuttelod, A., Derocher, A.E., Diesmos, A.C., Donaldson, J.S., Duckworth, J.W., Dutson, G., Dutta, S.K., Emslie, R.H., Farjon, A., Fowler, S., Freyhof, J., Garshelis, D.L., Gerlach, J., Gower, D.J., Grant, T.D., Hammerson, G.A., Harris, R.B., Heaney, L.R., Blair Hedges, S., Hero, J-M., Hughes, B., Hussain, S.A., Icochea M, J., Inger, R.F., Ishii, N., Iskandar, D.T., Jenkins, R.K.B., Kaneko, Y., Kottelat, M., Kovacs, K.M., Kuzmin, S.L., Marca, E.L., Lamoreux, J.F., Lau, M.W.N., Lavilla, E.O., Leus, K., Lewison, R.L., Lichtenstein, G., Livingstone, S.R., Lukoschek, V., Mallon, D.P., McGowan, P.J.K., McIvor, A., Moehlman, P.D., Molur, S., Alonso, A.M., Musick, J.A., Nowell, K., Nussbaum, R.A., Olech, W., Orlov, N.L., Papenfuss, T.J., Parra-Olea, G., Perrin, W.F., Polidoro, B.A., Pourkazemi, M., Racey, P.A., Ragle, J.S., Ram, M., Rathbun, G., Reynolds, R.P., Rhodin, A.G.J., Richards, S.J., Rodríguez, L.O., Ron, S.R., Rondinini, C., Rylands, A.B., Sadovy de Mitcheson, Y., Sanciangco, J.C., Sanders, K.L., Santos-Barrera, G., Schipper, J., Self-Sullivan, C., Shi, Y., Shoemaker, A., Short, F.T., Sillero-Zubiri, C., Silvano, D.L., Smith, K.G., Smith, A.T., Snoeks, J., Stattersfield, A.J., Symes, A.J., Taber, A.B., Talukdar, B.K., Temple, H.J., Timmins, R., Tobias, J.A., Tsytsulina, K., Tweddle, D., Ubeda, C., Valenti, S.V., Paul van Dijk, P., Veiga, L.M., Veloso, A., Wege, D.C., Wilkinson, M., Williamson, E.A., Xie, F., Young, B.E., Akçakaya, R.H., Bennun, L., Blackburn, T.M., Boitani, L., Dublin, H.T., da Fonseca, G.A.B., Gascon, C., Lacher, Jr, T.E., Mace, G.M., Mainka, S.A., J., McNeely, J.A., Mittermeier, R.A., Reid, G.M., Rodriguez, J.P., Rosenberg, A.A., Samways, M.J., Smart, J., Stein, B.A. and Stuart, S.N. 2010. The impact of conservation on the status of the world’s vertebrates. Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1194442. Follow links for Abstract and/or Reprint of the paper.
Wildlife in a Changing World – An analysis of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Includes an overview of how the Red List is used to guide conservation planning, reviews the state of the world's species, and has various chapters focussing on freshwater biodiversity, marine species, the Sampled Red List Index initiative, the impcats of climate change and a regional case-study showing what is happening in the Mediterranean. Also available in French.
2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. A Global Species Assessment – Analysis of the data held in the 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Includes sections discussing extinctions in recent time, causes of threat to species, where on the planet most threatened species occur and why, and examples of conservation actions that have proven effective in rescuing species from the brink of extinction.
2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – Analysis of the data held in the 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Includes a CD-ROM version of the 2000 IUCN Red List.

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Red List Index:

Szabo, J.K., Butchart, S.H.M., Possingham, H.P. and Garnett, S.T. 2012. Adapting global biodiversity indicators to the national scale: a Red List Index for Australasian birds. Biological Conservation 148(1): 61–68. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2012.01.062.
Hoffmann, M., Hilton-Taylor, C., Angulo, A., Böhm, M., Brooks, T.M., Butchart, S.H.M. and 174 other authors [see above]. 2010. The impact of conservation on the status of the world’s vertebrates. Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1194442. Follow links for Abstract and/or Reprint of the paper.
McGeogh, M.A., Butchart, S.H.M., Spear, D., Marais, E., Kleyhans, E.J., Symes, A., Chanson, J. and Hoffmann, M. 2010. Global indicators of biological invasion: species numbers, biodiversity impact and policy responses. Diversity and Distributions 16: 95-108. DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2009.00633.x.
Bubb, P.J., Butchart, S.H.M., Collen, B., Dublin, H., Kapos, V., Pollock, C., Stuart, S.N. and Vié, J.-C. 2009. The IUCN Red List Index: Guidance for National and Regional Use. Version 1.1. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. [A guidance document to support national and regional use of the IUCN Red List Index (RLI).]
Butchart, S.H.M. 2008. Red List Indices to measure the sustainability of species use and impacts of invasive alien species. Bird Conservation International 18 (suppl.): 245–262. DOI: 10.1017/S095927090800035X.
Butchart, S.H.M., Akçakaya, H.R., Chanson, J., Baillie, J.E.M., Collen, B, Quader, S., Turner, W.R., Amin, R., Stuart, S.N. and Hilton-Taylor, C. 2007. Improvements to the Red List Index. PLoS One 2(1): e140. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0000140. [A paper presenting revisions to the Red List Index (RLI) to overcome some shortcomings previously identified and to improve the overall performance of the RLI making it a more robust indicator for the status of biodiversity.]
Butchart, S.H.M., Akçakaya, H.R., Kennedy, E. and Hilton-Taylor, C. 2006. Biodiversity indicators based on trends in conservation status: strengths of the IUCN Red List Index. Conservation Biology 20: 579–581. DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00410.x.
Butchart, S.H.M., Stattersfield, A.J., Baillie, J., Bennun, L.A., Stuart, S.N., Akçakaya, H.R., Hilton-Taylor, C. and Mace, G.M. 2005. Using Red List Indices to measure progress towards the 2010 target and beyond. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 360(1454): 255–268. DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2004.1583. [Further details on the Red List Index (RLI), outlining the results of applying the RLI to birds and amphibians, with recommendations for further development of the RLI and its potential use for producing baseline data on the rate of biodiversity loss against which progress towards meeting the CBD 2010 target can be judged.]
Butchart, S.H.M., Stattersfield, A.J., Bennun, L.A., Shutes, S.M., Akçakaya, H.R., Baillie, J.E.M., Stuart, S.N., Hilton-Taylor, C. and Mace, G.M. 2004. Measuring global trends in the status of biodiversity: Red List Indices for birds. PLoS Biology 2(12): e383. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0020383. [An introduction to the Red List Index (RLI): a method of using genuine changes in Red List status to determine true status trends for a whole taxonomic group. Here, the RLI methodology is tested using data for birds assessed between 1998 and 2004.

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Other Red List Publications:

Guidelines for Appropriate Uses of Red List Data - Designed to encourage and facilitate the use of IUCN Red List data and information to tackle a broad range of important conservation issues. Addresses potential scientific, policy, management and educational uses of IUCN Red List data.
Status and Trends of Amphibian Declines and Extinctions Worldwide – Paper highlighting the findings of analyses of data from the first global assessment of the world's described amphibian species.
Threatened Amphibians of the World - Book exploring all ~1,900 threatened amphibian species, including an evaluation of threats, description of conservation measures, photograph/drawing, range map and information on range, population and habitat and ecology for each species. Detailed analyses and short essays also included.
For a list of additional amphibian-related Red List publications, click here.
For a list of mammal-related Red List publications, click here.
For regional biodiversity assessments of different taxonomic groups in Europe, click here.
For regional biodiversity assessments of different taxonomic groups in the Mediterranean, click here.
For regional biodiversity assessments of different freshwater taxonomic groups in Africa and Asia, click here.
For additional regional assessments of different taxonomic groups, click here.

Scientific Papers:

Butchart, S.H.M., Scharlemann, J.P.W., Evans, M., Quader, S. Arinaitwe, J., Bennun, L.A., Besançon, C., Boucher, T., Bomhard, B., Brooks, T.M., Burfield, I.J., Burgess, N.D., Clay, R.P., Crosby, M.J., Davidson, N.C. De Silva, N., Devenish, C., Dutson, G.C.L., Díaz Fernández, D.F., Fishpool, L.D.C., Foster, M., Hockings, M., Hoffmann, M., Knox, D., Larsen, F., Lamoreux, J.F., Loucks, C., May, I., Millett, J. Parr, M., Skolnik, B., Upgren, A. and Woodley, S. 2012. Protecting important sites for biodiversity contributes to meeting global conservation targets. PLoS One 7(3): e32529. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032529.
Zamin, T.J., Baillie, J.E.M., Miller, R.M., Rodríguez, J.P., Ardid, A. and Collen, B. 2010. National Red Listing Beyond the 2010 Target. Conservation Biology 24: 1012–1020.
Butchart, S.H.M. and Bird, J. 2009. Data Deficient birds on the IUCN Red List: what don’t we know and why does it matter? Biological Conservation 143(2010): 239– 247. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2009.10.008
Mace, G.M., Collar, N.J. , Gaston, K.J., Hilton-Taylor, C., Akçakaya, H.R., Leader-Williams, N., Milner-Gulland, E.J. and Stuart, S.N. 2008. Quantification of Extinction Risk: IUCN's System for Classifying Threatened Species. Conservation Biology 22: 1424 – 1442.
Boyd, C., Brooks, T.M., Butchart, S.H.M., da Fonseca, G.A.B., Hawkins, A.F.A., Hoffmann, M., Sechrest, W.W., Stuart, S.N., van Dijk, P.P. and Edgar, G.J. 2008. Spatial scale and the conservation of threatened species. Conservation Letters 1(1): 37–43. DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-263X.2008.00002.x.
Baillie J.E.M, Collen, B., Amin, R., Akçakaya, H.R., Butchart, S.H.M., Brummitt, N., Meagher, T.R., Ram, M., Hilton-Taylor, C. and Mace, G.M. 2008. Towards monitoring global biodiversity. Conservation Letters 1(1): 18–26.
Salafsky, N., Salzer, D., Stattersfield, A.J., Hilton-Taylor, C., Neugarten, R., Butchart, S.H.M., Collen, B., Cox, N., Master, L.L., O’Connor, S. and Wilkie, D. 2008.A Standard Lexicon for Biodiversity Conservation: Unified Classifications of Threats and Actions. Conservation Biology 22: 897–911.
Brooke, M. de L., Butchart, S.H.M., Garnett, S.T., Crowley, G.M., Mantila-Beniers, N.B and Stattersfield, A.J. 2008. Rates of movement of threatened bird species between IUCN Red List categories and toward extinction. Conservation Biology 22: 417–427. DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.00905.x.
Miller, R.M., Rodríguez, J.P., Aniskowicz-Fowler, T., Bambaradeniya, C., Boles, R., Eaton, M.A., Gärdenfors, U., Keller, V., Molur, S., Walker, S. and Pollock, C. 2007. National Threatened Species Listing Based on IUCN Criteria and Regional Guidelines: Current Status and Future Perspectives. Conservation Biology 21(3): 684–696. [An examination of the extent of use of the Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional Levels to prepare national threatened species lists and suggestions of improvements for the guidelines.]
Akçakaya, H.R., Butchart, S.H.M., Mace, G.M., Stuart, S.N. and Hilton-Taylor, C. 2006. Use and misuse of the IUCN Red List criteria in projecting climate change impacts on biodiversity. Global Change Biology 12(11): 2037–2043. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01253.x.
Rodrigues, A.S.L., Pilgrim, J.D., Lamoreux, J.F., Hoffmann, M. and Brooks, T.M. 2006. The value of the IUCN Red List for Conservation. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 21: 71–76.
de Grammont, P.C. and Cuarón, A.D. 2006. An evaluation of threatened species categorization systems used on the American continent. Conservation Biology 20: 14–27.
Butchart, S.H.M., Stattersfield, A.J. and Brooks, T.M. 2006. Going or gone: defining ‘Possibly Extinct’ species to give a truer picture of recent extinctions. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 126A: 7–24.
Gärdenfors, U., Hilton-Taylor, C., Mace, G.M. and Rodríguez, J.P. 2001. The application of IUCN Red List criteria at regional levels. Conservation Biology 15: 1206–1212.
Akçakaya, H.R., Ferson, S., Burgman, M.A., Keith, D.A., Mace, G.M. and Todd, C.R. 2000. Making consistent IUCN classifications under uncertainty. Conservation Biology 14: 1001–1013.
Mace, G. and Lande, R. 1991. Assessing Extinction Threats: Toward a Reevaluation of IUCN Threatened Species Categories. Conservation Biology 5: 148-157.

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Links to Other Web Sites

The following web sites provide further information on some of the species listed on the IUCN Red List, information about organizations working to conserve species and their habitats, and information on conservation projects being carried out around the world. There is a wealth of information on this subject available from the World Wide Web, with new sites being created every week. If you have other suggestions for useful links, please let us know.

Please note that IUCN does not endorse any of these web sites, and does not vouch for the authenticity or accuracy of the information presented on them. These are intended simply as a starting point for your own research into a variety of topics concerning species on the IUCN Red List. Please note that web site addresses frequently change, often without any forwarding links provided, so we cannot guarantee that all of the following links will work. We will try to update this list at least once each year.

Mammals:

African Mammals Databank - GIS-based databank on the distribution and conservation of all the big and medium-sized mammals over the whole African continent.
African Wild Dog Conservancy - project based in Kenya and involving local and national organizations and aimed at protecting the African Wild Dog through community-based conservation.
Animal Info - Information on rare, threatened, and endangered mammals.
Bat Conservation International - Bat conservation. Primarily information on American bat species.
Cat Action Treasury - Established in 1996 to organize and fund high priority conservation projects for the world’s 36 species of wild cat.
The Dormouse Hollow - Information about Dormice.
Dutch Whale Strandings - Online record of all registered cetacean strandings in the Netherlands since 1300 AD (in Dutch).
Global Mammal Assessment - Comprehensive assessment of the conservation status of the world's 5,488 species mammal species.
Kids for Tigers – A Sanctuary-Britannia environmental education programme in schools across India..
Mammal Species of the World (online edition) - Searchable database of Wilson & Reeder's Mammal Species of the World.
The Mammals of Texas (online edition) - Searchable database for information about mammal species in Texas, USA.
Marine Mammals - Links to web sites with information about marine mammals.
Moon Bears - a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of bears in South Korea.
Philippine Mammalian Fauna - Searchable database of the 1998 Synopsis of the Mammalian Fauna of the Philippine Islands.
Rhino Resource Center - An information source for rhinoceros reference material.
Save the Rhino - A charity organization committed to ensuring the survival of rhinoceros species in the wild. Provides direct support for rhino and community conservation projects in Africa and Asia.
Seal Conservation Society - Information about seals, sea lions, and walruses.
Sirenian International - Organization of people from around the world who share a dedication to manatee & dugong research, education, and conservation.
The Thylacine Museum - Information about the Tasmanian Wolf (the Thylacine).
Tiger Trust - An information site promoting conservation of tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) in India.
Tigris Foundation - Dutch organization dedicated to the survival of Siberian Tigers and Amur Leopards.
The Ultimate Ungulate Page - Information about Ungulates (hoofed mammals).
Wild Camel Protection Foundation - A UK based charitable trust established in 1997 for the protection of the wild Bactrian camel.
Wolf Howl Animal Preserve - Facts, images, sound files, and more about wolves (based in the USA).

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Birds:

Audubon's Multimedia Birds of America - A replica of the complete John James Audubon's Birds of America (1840-1844). Includes the full text, color plates, figures and bird calls.
Birds Australia - Information about Australia's birds and links to other BirdLife web sites.
Brown Teal - Detailed website on the status of Anas chlorotis and conservation measures involved.
The Complete Lexicon of Parrots - Searchable database for information about parrots.
Forest and Bird - Royal Forest and Bird Society of New Zealand web site – includes a link to their Best Fish Guide (printable version).
The Internet Bird Collection - On-line audiovisual library of footage of the world’s birds, available free of charge.
Ivory-billed Woodpecker - information about the Ivory-billed Woodpecker.
Xeno-canto: bird songs from tropical america - Audio recordings of bird songs from South and Central America.

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Reptiles & Amphibians:

AmphibiaWeb - Searchable database for taxonomic information on amphibian species.
Amphibian Ark - The AArk is an NGO with a mission of working in partnerships to ensure the global survival of amphibians, focusing on those that cannot currently be safeguarded in nature.
Amphibian Species of the World - Searchable database for information about amphibian species.
The Asian Turtle Crisis - Information about threatened turtle species in Asia.
Brown Tree Snake Information - USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Brown Tree Snake Information.
Center for North American Herpetology (CNAH) - Web site aimed at promoting education about and conservation of amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians in the United States and Canada.
The TIGR Reptile Database - Searchable databases for information on reptiles.
Global Amphibian Assessment - Comprehensive assessment of the conservation status of all the world's known species of frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians.
Greek Tortoise Information - an information resource from the Greek Tortoise Guild.
HerpDigest – Free electronic newsletter dedicated to reptile and amphibian conservation and science.
Midwest Frogs - Sound files and images of frogs from the US midwest.
Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) - dedicated to the conservation of amphibians, reptiles and their habitats as integral parts of our ecosystem and culture through proactive, coordinated, and inclusive public/private partnerships.
Sri Lanka Reptile.com - An illustrated web guide to the diverse reptile fauna of Sri Lanka.

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Fishes:

Catalog of Fishes on line - Searchable database for taxonomic information on fish taxa.
Desert Fishes Council - Information about fish species in desert aquatic ecosystems.
FAO Fish Identification and Data Programme - Information on a variety of fish species.
FishBase - Searchable database for information about fish species.
FISHONLINE - Online database of the Marine Conservation Society. Gives information on UK seafood sources and catching methods.
International Betta Congress (IBC) - Nonprofit, world-wide organization promoting the selective breeding, raising and study of the Genus Betta.
IBC Species Maintenance Program - Clearinghouse and resource centre for all existing available information on Betta species, promotes continued research to learn as much as we can about these species and their needs, provides stock cataloguing, breeder networking and offers judging guidance.
Living Earth Project - Project designed for the promotion and conservation of the biodiversity of the fish species in danger of extinction (in English, German, and Spanish).
Seafood Watch - A program of Monterey Bay Aquarium designed to raise consumer awareness about the importance of buying seafood from sustainable sources.
Sturgeons in Serbia - Web site developed by the Centre for Mulitdisciplinary Studies of the Belgrade University, providing information about sturgeon species in Serbia (in Serbian and English).
Project Seahorse - Project dedicated to the conservation and management of seahorses, their relatives and their habitats while respecting human needs.

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Invertebrates:

Antbase - Provides links to access information on all the ant species of the world.
Butterflies & Moths of North America - Information about North American butterflies and moths.
Butterfly Conservation - British charity that aims to create public awareness and halt the decline of butterfly species in the UK.
California's Endangered Insects - Threatened insect species in California.
Ephemeroptera Galactica - Everything you ever wanted to know about mayflies.
Insectarium Virtual - Links to insect pages (in Spanish).
Marine Crustaceans of Southern Australia - Information about Australian marine crustaceans.
The Mayflies of North America - Information about North American mayflies.
Orthoptera Species File - Searchable database for information on bush-crickets, crickets, and grasshoppers.
De Vlinderstichting - Dutch Butterfly Conservation, which has now expanded to include dragonflies and moths. Includes on-line summaries of the Vlinders magazine, as well as details of the 1999 Red Data Book of European butterflies (Rhopalocera). (In Dutch and English.)
World Checklist of Extant Mecoptera Species - Information about scorpion-flies and hanging-flies.
World Species Database - Invertebrates - Professional identification series (in German & English).

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Plants:

The African Blackwood Conservation Programme - Aims to help replenish the African Blackwood Tree in Tanzania.
American Bamboo Society - Society for bamboo enthusiasts.
Anthos - Information system for Spanish plants providing distribution maps, common names and more information.
Aquatic Plant Information Retrieval System (University of Florida) - Contains citation and keyword records for scientific articles and reports about species of aquatic, wetland and invasive plants.
Atlas Florae Europaeae - Project to map the distribution of European vascular plants, grid maps for several families available for free.
Atlas y Libro Rojo de la flora vascular amenazada - Atlas and Red Book of threatened vascular plants in Spain, contains factsheets of several hundred species.
Australian Network for Plant Conservation (ANPC) - An important site for anyone interested in Australian plant conservation issues. Includes links to lists and photographs of threatened Australian plants.
Botanical epithets - A dictionary of the meaning of many of the Latin names used (based on North American alpine species).
Botanical Society of the British Isles - A wealth of information on plant species in Britain.
The Brazilian Cacti Project - A website dedicated to the popularization and conservation of the species of the Cactaceae family that occur in Brazil
The Cactus and Succulent Plant Mall - A useful site providing links to all other related web sites and to many other botanical sites.
The Canadian Botanical Conservation Network - Information on plant conservation activities in Canada.
Carnivorous Plant Database - Searchable database for information about carnivorous plants.
Center for Plant Conservation - Conservation and restoration of America's native plants.
The Cycad Pages - Web access to a botanical database developed from The World List of Cycads.
Euro + Med PlantBase - Project developing an information system for European and Mediterranean vascular plants, based on an agreed taxonomic framework.
Flora of China - Harvard University-hosted website on the flora of China.
Flora Croatica Database - Vascular plant taxonomy and bibliography of Croatia with online access to the Red Data Book and species factsheets
Flora Iberica - Electronic access to several volumes describing plant species from the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands.
Flora of Iceland - Checklist of all plant species present in Iceland.
Flora of Israel Online - Website with a plantfinder, distribution maps and articles related to Israeli wildflowers.
Flora of Northern Ireland - Online ressource.
Flora of Zimbabwe - Details and Red List status of plants found in Zimbabwe.
FloraWeb - German website with description and distribution of plants and plant societies.
Forest Conservation Links - Links to web sites dedicated to conservation of forest habitat and species.
Gene Conserve - An electronic journal devoted to conservation of crop genetic resources with emphasis on cassava.
Georgia Plant Stewardship Network - This is a school site endangered plant propagation project started in 1996 at The State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Includes useful information on pitcher plants (Sarracenia spp.).
The Ginko Pages - Information about the tree Ginkgo biloba and all its aspects.
GrassBase - The online world grass flora presenting detailed morphological descriptions of all grass species.
Gymnosperm Database - The web's premier source of information on conifers and their allies.
Hawaiian Native Plant Genera - List of flora to be found on the Hawaiian Islands. Compiled by the University of Hawaii Botany Department.
The Haworthia Society - Society for people interested in the genus Hawthoria.
The International Asclepiad Society - Society for people interested in asclepiads.
The International Plant Names Index - Searchable database of plant names. Joint project by The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, The Harvard University Herbaria, and the Australian National Herbarium.
The Internet Directory for Botany - Index to botanical information available on the Internet.
Internet Orchid Photo Encyclopaedia - Archive of photos and information on orchid species.
Missouri Botanical Garden - Search engine for their VAST (VAScular Tropicos) nomenclatural database and associated authority files.
National Botanical Institute (NBI; South Africa) - Custodians of the South African flora. Now a part of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (see below).
Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC) - Based in Ohio State University, the OPGC focuses on the conservation of wild related species of ornamental plants.
Palm and Cycad Societies of Florida (PACSOF) - Contains online editions of Palm and Cycad encyclopaedias, as well as a taxonomic glossary.
The Parasitic Plant Connection - Descriptions, images, references and terminology for parasitic plant genera and species.
The Plant List - A working list of all known plant species; includes data from RBG Kew, Missouri Botanical Garden, Global Compositae Checklist, ILDIS.
Plantlife - Plantlife is Britain's only national membership charity dedicated exclusively to conserving all forms of plant life in its natural habitat.
Plants For A Future - A resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants.
Plant Talk - Founded in 1995 as a magazine focussed on plant conservation. Now only available online, hosted by the Eden Project.
Polygalaceae - Information about the family Polygalaceae.
Protea Atlas Project - Information on a project to map the Proteaceae family in southern Africa.
A Reference List For Plant Re-introductions, Recovery Plans and Restoration Programmes - This project aims to build and maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date reference list for use as a resource by those involved in plant re-introduction and recovery work. The ultimate aim is to have as comprehensive a list as possible of species which are the subject of species and habitat recovery work, linked to projects, contacts and relevant literature.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (UK) - Details of plant conservation work done by staff at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney (Australia) - A New South Wales State Government organization aiming to inspire the appreciation and conservation of plants. The site encompasses the Royal Botanic Gardens, Mount Annan Botanic Garden and mount Tomah Botanic Garden.
SABONET - The Southern African Botanical Diversity Network web site; includes a searchable database of threatened species.
Schede di Botanica - Italian website with distribution information and description of Italian plant species
Search the databases - Online search engine, allowing you to search the living collections and databases of a number of botanic gardens and conservation organisations worldwide.
South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) - South African National Biodiversity Institute, Biodiversity Policy & Planning page, with details of regional Red Lists and programmes.
Scott's Botanical Links - Compilation of useful botany education resources for advanced high school and college level students.
Succulent Euphorbias - Information and images of succulent plants (in German and English).
The Succulent Plant Page - Information about succulent plants.
Tela Botanica - French website with description and distribution data of the flora of France, Reunion, Guadeloupe and Martinique.
USDA Plants Database - Searchable database.
World List of Cycads - Searchable database for information about Cycads, including threatened species.
ZDSF/CRFS - Swiss national centre for mapping the Swiss flora, including information about the national threat status of vascular plants.

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Fungi & Algae:

AlgaeBase - Searchable database listing the world's known algae species.
British Mycological Society - Established in 1996, this conservation group promotes all issues related to fungus conservation.
European Mycological Association - Web site providing information about resources for fungal conservation.

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General:

Ark in the Sky - where kids and their teachers can find material to use for their school, community and personal projects, research material, share their ideas, are motivated to create new ideas and to act upon these ideas to improve their local environment, their school and the world at large.
ARKive - Electronic archive of photographs, moving images and sounds of endangered species and habitats.
Astolinto - Information and photos about Italian animals.
Australia's threatened species - Information about Australia's threatened species. Includes lists of threatened species.
Bagheera - General information page on Endangered and Extinct species.
Bioversity International (IPGRI) - World's largest non-profit agricultural organization devoted to the conservation and promotion of biodiversity.
BiologyBrowser - Produced by BIOSIS, this site offers resources for the life sciences information community.
Biology Degrees to Save the World - A resource for getting your biology degree online. The site has the latest and best information about getting your biology degree through an online college or university, as well as glimpses at what to expect in the real world and how you can make your degree work for you.
Cave Biota - A "webumentary" of cave-dwelling species.
Center for Biological Diversity - 2004 report on the extinction rates in the USA since the creation of the Endangered Species Act (1973).
Climate Ark - Climate change and renewable energy portal.
Committee on Recently Extinct Organisms (CREO) - Mission to foster an improved understanding of species' extinctions that have occurred in recent times.
CONABIO - Mexican organization aimed at promoting and developing scientifically-based activities to explore, study, protect or find a sustainable use for biological resources. The intention of these activities is to conserve Mexico's resources and to generate criteria for sustainable development (In Spanish with English translation).
Conservation Evidence - This web site gives access to an online peer-reviewed journal (Conservation Evidence) publishing papers documenting the effectiveness of a conservation management intervention.
Conservation Online - Resources for Conservation Professionals. A project of the Preservation Department of Stanford University Libraries. A full text library of conservation information, covering a wide spectrum of topics of interest to those involved with the conservation of library, archives and museum materials.
Countdown 2010 - Information about progress towards the European Union’s commitment to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010 (in English and Russian).
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Illegal Imports (UK) - Highlighting health and environmental risks of introduced exotic species and diseases.
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Non-native Species (UK) - Discusses non-native species and what action is being taken in the UK in relation to non-native species.
Earth Trends - the environmental information portal - Online source for environmental and sustainable development information.
EcoEarth.Info - An environment portal with Internet search, biocentric commentary, social network, constant news and link tracking, all dedicated to achieving global environmental sustainability
Eco-Portal - An Information Gateway Empowering the Movement for Environmental Sustainability.
EnchantedLearning.com - Educational web site for children. Includes information on animals and habitats.
EndangeredSpecie.com - Information on endangered species in the US, reasons for their status and ways the public can help improve their situation.
Endangered Species Expedition - American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) endangered species expedition.
Endangered Species of Hawaii - Information about Hawaiian species and habitat conservation.
Endangered Species Link - Useful links to a wide variety of sites focussing on endangered species.
Envirolink - Maintains a database of thousands of environmental resources and provides internet services to non-profit organizations.
Environment Australia education site - Environmental Education page. Advice for consumers on how to help the environment.
Environmental Sciences Web Resources - Long list of links to directories of internet resources and search engines dedicated to environmental topics. Provides access to a wide variety of environmental information resources.
Envirovet Networking Webumentory - A series of wildlife video films created by wildlife veterinarians, veterinary students and wildlife biologists.
EU Nature & Biodiversity Home Page - Information about EU nature conservation policy.
European Register of Marine Species - An authoritative taxonomic list of species occurring in the European marine environment.
Extinct Megafauna - A look at the prehistoric detrimental effects of humans on the Earth’s large faunal species.
Forest Protection Portal - Rainforest, forest and biodiversity conservation news and information.
FlorAnimal - Russian site with plant and animal information (in Russian).
Galapagos Institute of Village Ecologies - A global sustainability institute/village on the Galapagos Islands that aims to pursue carbon zero living methods holistically applicable to all the earth and all peoples.
GreenFacts- A Belgian non-profit organization aiming to bring complex scientific reports on health and the environment to the reach of non-specialists. This link takes users to their page on biodiversity.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility - Free and open access to biodiversity data.
InfoNatura - Searchable database for information about birds and mammals of Latin America (Mesoamerica).
I Love Parks - Web site updated daily with news about parks around the world. Helping people to connect with parks and to promote the establishment of new parks.
iSpot - a social network with tens of thousands of members where participants help each other put names to organisms that they have seen. Everything and everyone is welcome, from beginners to experts. Observations validated by experts are sent by them to the UK National Biodiversity Network and from there to GBIF.
iSpot (Southern Africa) - a version of iSpot (see above) dedicated to the biodiversity of southern Africa and run by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. Observations submitted to the site enter the national records and images are linked to the pages of the Red Data List for South Africa.
Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy - Journal addressing legal and political issues concerning human interrelationship with and management of wildlife species, and their habitats.
The Last Noah's Ark - An environmental programme based in Brazil (in Portuguese and English).
Librarians' Internet Index - Environment - Search engine designed by librarians of high-quality websites covering a wide range of environmental topics.
Mass extinctions - A site listing a wide variety of links to web sites concentrating on extinctions.
National Centre for Biotechnology Information - Resource for molecular biology information.
French National Sea Experience Centre (NAUSICAÄ) - Aims to raise public awareness about the need for conservation of marine environments (in French and English).
Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning - A network of excellence funded by the European Union acting as a platform to integrate and disseminate knowledge and expertise on marine biodiversity.
National Geographic - Online version of the National Geographic journal.
The Natural History Photographic Agency - Photo library of natural history and environmental images.
Overzicht van de Nederlandse biodiversiteit [Overview of the biodiversity of the Netherlands] - The Dutch Species Catalogue, providing a current and comprehensive overview of Dutch Biodiversity (in Dutch).
Natural Selection - A gateway to quality evaluated Internet resources in the natural world, coordinated by The Natural History Museum, London.
Proquest Learning Library - Information and learning web site.
The Race Against Extinction: Biodiversity and Endangered Species - Information site managed by the Centre for Biological Diversity.
Rainforest Protection - This campaign, led by WWF in partnership with Sky Rainforest Rescue, aims to save one billion trees in the state of Acre in the Brazilian Amazon, protect habtats, and conserve endangered species.
Species 2000 - Searchable databases. Indexing the world's known species.
US Fish & Wildlife Service Endangered Species Program - The US FWS Endangered Species Program web site.
The Virtual Library of Ecology & Biodiversity - Specializes in reviewing internet information sources pertaining to ecology and biodiversity based on their educational value.
WWF - What You Can Do - Practical guide (provided by WWF) on how to "live green" and lessen your impact on the planet.
WildFinder - A map-driven searchable database of more than 26,000 species world-wide, allowing users to discover where species live or explore wild places to find out what species live there. their educational value.
WildNet Africa - Information about African issues; large photo gallery of African wildlife.
Whale of a Time - working for the conservation of species around the globe by organising interactive, creative and educational workshops and events.

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Conservation & Related Organizations:

Actionbioscience.org - Site provides articles by scientists, science educators, and science students on issues related to seven biological challenges: environment, biodiversity, human genome, biotechnology, evolution, new frontiers and biology education.
African Wildlife Foundation - Working to ensure the conservation of wildlife and wild lands of Africa.
Applied Biomathematics - Research and software company specializing in ecological and environmental risk analysis.
ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation - Biodiversity Information Sharing Service (BISS), online database for species and protected areas in South East Asia.
American Bird Conservancy - Non-profit organization dedicated to protecting birds and their habitats in the Americas.
Audubon - National Audubon Society. Audubon's mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats for the benefit of humaity and the earth's biological diversity.
BirdLife International - Red List Partner organization. Global organization focussing on conservation of birds and their habitats.
Belize Audubon Society - Non-profit, non-governmental, membership organization dedicated to the protection of Belize's natural resources.
Conservation International (CI) - Red List Partner organization. Field-based, non-profit organization, working to protect the Earth's biologically richest areas and to help the people who live there improve their quality of life.
Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History - Provides information on their mission, research, and programs dealing with local and global biodiversity and conservation issues.
Defenders of Wildlife - Organization dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities.
Endangered Species International - Organization implementing conservation science in field projects around the world and linking research and results to local, national and global policy.
Endangered Species Recovery Program - A cooperative research programme on biodiversity conservation in central California, administered by California State University, Stanislaus Foundation.
Environment Australia - Australia's Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
Environmental Protection Agency - Allows US citizens to obtain up-to-date, comprehensive, accurate information about their communities.
Falklands Conservation - Organisation based in Stanley, Falkland Islands, and London, England, dedicated to protecting the unique wildlife of the Falkland Islands and the South Atlantic.
The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) - The Federal scientific agency for national and international nature conservation and landscape management in Germany (in German and English).
Fauna and Flora International (FFI) - The world’s longest established international conservation body.
The GLOBE Program - Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment.
Humboldt Institute - The Alexander von Humboldt Biological resources Institute promotes, co-ordinates and carries out research that contributes to the sustainable use of biodiversity in Colombia.
The World Fish Centre - International scientific research organization working towards reducing poverty and hunger by improving fisheries and aquaculture, while conserving aquatic biodiversity.
International Fund for Animal Welfare - Working to improve the welfare of wild and domestic animals throughout the world.
IUCN - The World Conservation Union - Founded in 1948, The World Conservation Union brings together States, government agencies and a diverse range of non-governmental organizations in a unique world partnership: over 980 members in all, spread across some 140 countries.
IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN/SSC) - The largest of the six Commissions of IUCN - The World Conservation Union. It serves as the main source of advice to the Union and its members on the technical aspects of species conservation. SSC seeks to mobilise action by the world conservation community for species conservation, particularly those species threatened with extinction and those of importance for human welfare.
Japan Committee of IUCN - Japanese site explaining the work of IUCN. Includes a Red List users enquiry page (in Japanese)
Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) - UK Government's wildlife adviser. Involves English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales and includes national status information for UK species.
Keystone Conservation - Working to conserve and restore America's ecosystem integrity by protecting predators and their habitats.
The Linnean Society of London - This society plays a central role in documenting the world’s flora and fauna.
Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund - A philanthropic endowment established to provide targeted grants to individual species conservation initiatives, recognize leaders in the field of species conservation, and elevate the importance of species in the broader conservation debate. See here for more information on a selection of projects supported by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.
Millennium Ecosystem Assessments - The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment assessed the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being. Their findings provide a scientific appraisal of the condition and trends in the world’s ecosystems and the services they provide, as well as the scientific basis for action to conserve and use them sustainably.
National Wildlife Federation - A member-supported conservation group.
Natural History Museum, London - Measuring biodiversity, rarity and conservation priority and selecting priority areas for conservation.
Nature Conservation Society of Japan - The mission of NACS-J is to insure the conservation of ecosystems and biological diversity.
NatureServe - Red List Partner organization. Site includes a searchable database for general information about species in the United States and Canada.
The Ocean Conservancy - Formerly the Centre for Marine Conservation (CMC), this is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the world's ocean life and their habitats.
Planta Europa - Network of independent organizations, non-governmental and governmental, working together to conserve European wild plants and fungi.
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF) - Organization dedicated to the conservation of the wildlife of the Sahara and its bordering Sahelian grasslands.
Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) - An interdisciplinary body of natural and social science expertise focused on global environmental issues.
Society for Conservation Biology - International professional organization promoting scientific study of biological diversity.
Swedish Species Information Centre - Focal point for information on threatened species and biodiversity in Sweden (in Swedish and English).
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) - The world's largest private international conservation group.
TRAFFIC - Joint wildlife trade monitoring programme of WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature and IUCN-The World Conservation Union.
Tropical Sierra Foundation (TSF) - Foundation dedicated to replenishing nature through educational programmes and reforestation of tropical regions.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) - Provides information for policy and action to conserve the living world.
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Wetlands International - Non-profit organization dedicated solely to wetland conservation and sustainable management.
The Wilderness Society
Wildlife Conservation Society - Environmental education organization.
WWF International - Independent organizations dedicated to the conservation of nature.

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International Conventions:

African-Eurasian Migratory (Water Bird) Agreement (AEWA) - AEWA is the largest agreement developed so far under the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS), came into force on 1 November 1999.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - The Convention on Biological Diversity's objectives are the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) - International agreement between governments aiming to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Web site includes searchable databases.
The RAMSAR Convention on wetlands - An intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) - This intergovernmental treat (also known as the Bonn Convention) aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range. A closely related site is the:
Global Register for Migratory Species (GROMS) - This provides a searchable database and interactive maps.
World Heritage Convention - UNESCO's World Heritage seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in the Convention concerning the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (i.e., the World Heritage Convention).

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IUCN SSC Specialist Groups:

IUCN SSC Specialist Groups - Includes links to any Conservation Action Plans or Specialist Group newsletters currently available online.

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National/Regional Red Lists & Red Data Books:

National and Regional Red Lists - This web site intended to act as a centralized point for national and regional Red Lists data from around the world and complements the global IUCN Red List as a sister site. It includes a searchable species database, a library of downloadable documents, a network of individuals involved in national/regional Red Listing around the world, and a discussion forum for specific queries.

Threatened Fauna of Australia
Threatened Flora of Australia
BASICS - National level statistics on Red Listed species of vascular plants, mammals, birds and reptiles, and protected areas in the Baltic Sea region.
Black Sea Red Data Book
Brazilian Threatened Fauna Red List - In Portuguese.
British Columbia - Provincial Red and Blue lists for species in British Columbia
California Red Lists - Under the auspices of the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), the site contains lists of flora and fauna in the state, and their regional status.
Canadian Red List - Regional assessments, as completed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
Red Lists of Colombia (in Spanish)
Red Books of Croatia - Summaries of the Red Books of Mammals; Amphibians and Reptiles; Freshwater Fishes; Vascular Flora; and the Red List of Threatened Plants and Animals of Croatia.
Danish Red Data Book - Database with the most recent threat status of Denmarks animals and plants, available in Danish and English.
Red List of Plant and Animal Species in Denmark - The 1997 Red List, in Danish, with summary in English.
The European Red List - A review of the conservation status of c.6,000 European species (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fishes, butterflies, dragonflies, and selected groups of beetles, molluscs, and vascular plants) according to IUCN regional Red Listing guidelines.
Red books on species and habitats of European concern - European Environment Agency-compiled list of national, regional, European and global Red Lists.
Estonian Red List of Threatened Species - 2008, available in English and Estonian.
Red List of Estonian Lichens
Red List of Finnish Species - From 2010, in English and Finnish.
Inventaire National du Patrimoine Naturel - France's flora and fauna, in French.
Red Lists of Ireland
Red Data Books of Karelia and Eastern Fennoscandia - Summary of contents.
Red List of butterflies and moths of Luxembourg
Red List of the dragonfly fauna in Luxembourg
Red List of the vascular plants of Luxembourg
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation - An IUCN regional centre who's goal is “To influence, encourage and assist Mediterranean societies in achieving both the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, and sustainable development.”
Regional Red List for Mongolia - Summary of the Mongolian Red List project. PDF versions of the Mongolian Red List of Mammals, the Mongolian Red List of Fishes and the Mongolian Red List of Reptiles and Amphibians are available through the National and Regional Red Lists website (in English and Mongolian).
Soortendatabase - The Netherland's repository of plant and animal species data, in Dutch.
Artsdatabanken - Norwegian Red List of 2010, in Norwegian.
Threatened Mammals in Norway: fact sheets and proposed Red List - In Norwegian, with English summary.
Red List of Norwegian macrolichens
Livro Vermelho dos Vertebrados de Portugal [Red Book of the Vertebrates of Portugal] - Online version (in Portuguese).
ArtDatabanken - Swedish Species Information Centre; online access to the Swedish Red List (in Swedish).
Red Book of Butterflies in Turkey - online versions available in Turkish and English
Red Data Book of Ukraine - Short summary in Russian.
Libro Rojo de la Fauna Venezolana [Red Book of Venezuelan Fauna] - (in Spanish).

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Publications and Links

Contents

Publications

Red List Assessment Process: