Side Event

50 years of The IUCN Red List: evolution and new applications for the conservation of biodiversity at global, national and site level

Organizer
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Zoological Society of London (ZSL)

Date and Time
10 October 2014 18:15 - 19:45

Meeting
Twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is arguably one of the most important tools in nature conservation, facilitating the flow of biodiversity information from the point of collection to policy-makers around the world, and driving research into biodiversity conservation. This year, the Red List is celebrating its 50th birthday, and over the years, it has turned itself into the foremost objective assessment tool for species extinction risk, using quantitative criteria applicable to the widest possible range of species. Red List data now feed directly into biodiversity indicators which allow us to track progress towards the CBD’s Aichi Targets, in particular Target 12. This side event will explain the history and development of the Red List and how it has now become one of the most important knowledge products to support conservation and will showcase applications of the Red List, including the Red List and Sampled Red List indices, and examples of National Red Lists.