Publications and Links

The following publications related to the IUCN Red List have been produced by the IUCN Red List and its Partner organizations.

Red List Assessment Process:

  • 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.
  • Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional 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.

Analyses of the IUCN Red List:

  • 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.
  • 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.

Red List Index:

Other Red List Publications:

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.
  • 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 Badger Links List - over 300 direct links to web pages about badgers.
  • The Ultimate Ungulate Page - Information about Ungulates (hoofed mammals), Texas, USA.
  • 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).

Birds:

Reptiles & Amphibians:

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).
  • One Fish - An online database and directory of fisheries and aquatic research and development information.
  • Project Seahorse - Project dedicated to the conservation and management of seahorses, their relatives and their habitats while respecting human needs.

Invertebrates:

Plants:

Fungi and Algae:

General:

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 Applied Biodiversity Science (CABS) at CI - Red List Partner organization. CABS analyzes threats to biodiversity and opportunities for conservation to increase understanding, adopt a proactive stance, and develop long-term solutions.
  • 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 the Environment and Heritage.
  • 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 Programme - 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.
  • 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.

International Conventions:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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).

IUCN/SSC Specialist Groups:

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

National/Regional Red Lists & Red Data Books: