India to launch ‘Red List’ survey to estimate risks to plants, animals

India is set to conduct a first-of-its-kind assessment of nearly 11,000 species of plants and animals and assess how vulnerable they are to extinction. While India already lists endangered animals in various ‘schedules’, this proposed exercise — called the National Red List Assessment of Indian Flora and Fauna and expected to go on till 2030 — will, according to officials connected to the exercise, give the most accurate assessment of the threats faced and thereby inform conservation measures.

The methodology adopted for the exercise will be as per that followed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, which is currently the global standard and lists species worldwide based on the extinction threats that they face.

“The vision of the initiative is to establish a coordinated, science-based red listing system that accurately reflects the conservation status of Indian species. The project’s goal is to publish National Red Data Books on flora and fauna by 2030, forming a central resource for conservation planning and threat mitigation. The most important deliverable would be to complete the red list assessment of about 11,000 prioritised species of flora and fauna published in the form of peer reviewed individual assessments, thematic publications as books and a user-friendly online database. With this, a pool of 300 certified assessors will be created within the country enhancing the capacity and expertise,” according to a statement from the Environment Ministry.

“To fulfil our commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), India has launched the National Red List Assessment initiative, aligned with IUCN global standards,” said Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for Environment. “This initiative will establish a nationally coordinated red-listing system, a tool for accurate assessment, conservation planning, and informed policy development.”

Mr. Singh was leading an Indian delegation at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.

The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) — in collaboration with IUCN India, Center for Species Survival: India – Wildlife Trust of India (CSS: India – WTI), and the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) network in India, will be the key organisations involved in the assessment effort.

Rigorous system

Globally, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species provides a scientifically rigorous system for assessing species extinction risk. As of 2025, the IUCN Red List has assessed 1,69,420 species, with plans to assess an additional 94,000 species and to reassess 1,42,000 species by 2030.

The project will be entirely funded using public funds, Pratyush Mahapatra, Scientist, ZSI told The Hindu. With an estimated budget of ₹95 crore, ₹80 crore will be contributed by BSI and ZSI, with the remaining ₹15 crore — earmarked for training, travel, workshops, expert consultations, and external capacity building — to be mobilised by IUCN India and CSS: India – WTI.

The Living Planet Report (2024) highlights a critical decline in global biodiversity, reporting a 73% decrease in the average population sizes of 5,495 vertebrate species between 1970 and 2020, with freshwater species experiencing the most severe decline of 85%. Over 40% of plant species now face extinction due to ongoing habitat destruction. The current rate of species extinction is estimated to be 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than the natural background rate highlighting the unprecedented scale of biodiversity loss driven by human activities.