At the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, held in Abu Dhabi, India unveiled its ambitious National Red List Roadmap. The initiative is designed to provide a science-based, nationally coordinated framework to evaluate the conservation status of the country’s flora and fauna, reflecting a major step in India’s biodiversity conservation strategy.
Why This Matters
India is one of the world’s mega-diverse countries — though it covers only about 2.4% of the Earth’s land area, it harbours nearly 8% of global plant species and 7.5% of global animal species. A national Red List aligned with the standards of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will:
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Provide baseline data on the status of thousands of species.
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Enable evidence-based conservation planning and policy-making.
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Help India fulfil its commitments under global frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Key Features of the Roadmap
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The initiative targets assessment of approximately 11,000 species (≈ 7,000 plants and 4,000 animals) by 2030.
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The roadmap is the result of collaboration between the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), IUCN-India, and the Centre for Species Survival – India.
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The system will be inclusive — integrating traditional knowledge, local communities, and scientific expertise.
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Publication of National Red Data Books for flora and fauna by 2030 is an explicit goal.
Implications for Conservation in India
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With better data on species’ extinction risk and threat levels, conservation efforts can be prioritised more effectively.
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The roadmap gives India the capacity to track progress against global biodiversity targets, measure the effectiveness of conservation interventions, and allocate resources more strategically.
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It strengthens legal and policy frameworks – for instance, the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended in 2022) provides a backbone, and the Red List adds the scientific basis.
What Comes Next & Practical Steps
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Training and certification of taxonomists, assessors, and experts will be ramped up to conduct assessments across multiple taxa.
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Data collection on species distribution, population trends, habitat status, threats, and conservation status will commence under the national coordination framework.
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States and union territories will need to align with the national Red List process, integrate findings into state-level biodiversity action plans.
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Outreach and community involvement will be essential — awareness among local communities, inclusion of indigenous knowledge systems, and transparency of data will boost the impact.
People Also Ask (PAA)
1. What is the National Red List Roadmap?
It is India’s newly launched initiative to systematically assess the conservation status of thousands of species of flora and fauna, in alignment with IUCN standards, aiming for full assessments by 2030.
2. Why is the launch at IUCN Congress significant?
The launch at the IUCN Congress provides India with a global platform, reaffirming its commitment to international conservation frameworks, and signals collaboration with global experts and agencies.
3. Which agencies are involved in the initiative?
The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) leads the initiative, with contributions from ZSI, BSI, IUCN-India, Centre for Species Survival – India, and many scientific and civil-society partners.
4. What can we expect by 2030?
By 2030, the goal is to publish comprehensive National Red Data Books for flora and fauna, complete assessments of the targeted species, and establish a national system for periodic reassessment of species.
Conclusion
The launch of India’s National Red List Roadmap at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 marks a turning point in the country’s biodiversity conservation journey. By committing to a science-based, inclusive, and large-scale assessment of species, India is positioning itself to not only protect its rich natural heritage but also contribute meaningfully to global conservation efforts. As the assessments progress, the findings will shape policy, guide action, and help ensure that India’s flora and fauna are safeguarded for future generations.
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