Reference:

• India launched an ambitious roadmap named “National Red List Assessment Vision 2025–2030” at the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi, aimed at strengthening biodiversity conservation.

Why it is needed:

• India is one of the 17 mega-biodiverse countries in the world and hosts nearly 8% of global plant species and 7.5% of global animal species.
• Despite this, only 6.33% of plant species and 7.2% of animal species in India have been assessed under the global IUCN Red List so far.
• This initiative focuses on establishing a nationally coordinated system to scientifically assess and monitor the conservation status of the country’s flora and fauna.
• India has already ensured species protection through strong legal provisions under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, along with the recently revised CITES Appendices.

Global context:

• Under the IUCN Red List, 163,000 species have been assessed, of which around 28% are threatened with extinction.
• This underscores the urgency and relevance of India’s initiative, providing a concrete direction for biodiversity conservation.

Key objectives and approach of the roadmap:

This roadmap demonstrates India’s commitment to document biodiversity, assess threats, and develop evidence-based conservation plans.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

• Established: 5 October 1948, Fontainebleau, France
• Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland
• Type: Non-governmental, international organization
• Objective: To ensure nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources
• Note: In September 2025, IUCN officially recognized India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve.