National Red List Assessment Programme
10.10.2025
National Red List Assessment Programme
Context
India is launching its first National Red List Assessment Programme, a comprehensive initiative to evaluate the conservation status of native plants and animals. It will establish India’s own Red Data Book, similar to the IUCN Red List, strengthening national biodiversity conservation.
About the News
India, one of 17 mega-diverse nations, harbours over 47,000 plant and 100,000 animal species, representing about 7–8% of global biodiversity across four hotspots — the Himalayas, Indo-Burma Region, Western Ghats, and Sundaland (Nicobar Islands).
The IUCN Red Data Book categorises species by threat level, from Least Concern to Extinct. India’s initiative aims to replicate this model nationally for indigenous conservation insights.
To develop a National Red Data Book documenting the risk status of native species using IUCN’s globally accepted methodology, thereby filling India’s data and monitoring gaps.
India’s National Red List Initiative
The programme targets assessment of around 11,000 species across ecosystems, including both plants and animals, offering a unified reference for domestic conservation priorities.
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Botanical Survey of India (BSI) will jointly conduct evaluations.
- Nodal Ministry: MoEF&CC
- Timeline: Targeted completion by 2030
- Budget: ₹95 crore
- Standards: Aligns with IUCN classification for global comparability
Constitutional and Legal Context
Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) Linkage
While the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 lists species for legal protection, it lacks a scientific extinction-risk evaluation. The National Red List will fill this gap, aligning conservation efforts with WPA mechanisms.
The initiative supports India’s obligations under:
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) – promoting conservation and sustainable use.
- Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (COP 15) – achieving the “30 by 30” target (protecting 30% of land and ocean by 2030).
- National Biodiversity Targets – aiding updates to India’s biodiversity indices and progress reports.
Rationale and Significance
India lacks a consolidated, scientific system to assess and update the status of native species. The Red List will provide evidence-based inputs for policymaking, research, and wildlife management.
Unlike the global IUCN Red List, India’s version will focus exclusively on native ecosystems, incorporating local ecological data for regional relevance.
It will raise awareness among policymakers, researchers, and citizens about species vulnerability, promoting community participation in conservation.
Challenges
- Data Collection: Mapping 11,000+ species requires vast field surveys and coordination.
- Technical Expertise: Ensuring taxonomic accuracy and standardisation remains complex.
- Funding and Capacity: Sustained financial and institutional support are essential.
- Dynamic Threats: Climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and invasive species demand periodic reassessment.
Way Forward
- Promote collaboration among MoEF&CC, ZSI, BSI, universities, and NGOs, and strengthen biodiversity centres across states for regular monitoring.
Create an AI-enabled biodiversity database for real-time species tracking and prediction. Launch a public Red List portal for transparency and citizen access.
Align findings with the WPA, Forest Conservation Act, and National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) frameworks. Use data to guide conservation funding and habitat restoration.
Conclusion
The National Red List Assessment Programme marks a milestone in India’s biodiversity governance. By creating a domestic Red Data Book, India will refine species protection strategies and strengthen its role as a global conservation leader. Through scientific evaluation, collaboration, and digital innovation, this initiative will ensure the nation’s ecological wealth is preserved for future generations.