India Launched National Red List to Biodiversity Conservation Till 2030

In a landmark initiative for biodiversity conservation, India launched its National Red List Roadmap and Vision 2025–2030 at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025. The event, held at the Asia Pavilion, witnessed the official unveiling by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh. This comprehensive plan aims to develop a nationally coordinated, science-based framework to assess and monitor the conservation status of India’s diverse species, laying the foundation for the publication of National Red Data Books by 2030.

A Strategic Conservation Framework

• The Red List Roadmap is India’s structured response to the urgent need for species documentation and threat assessment.
• It will guide conservation strategies through scientific data, allowing focused interventions for endangered flora and fauna.
• The roadmap was developed in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), and the Centre for Species Survival.

Key Features of the Vision 2025–2030

Evidence-Based and Inclusive

• The Vision 2025–2030 document outlines a science-based, inclusive approach involving various government departments, research institutions, and global partners.
• The emphasis is on creating baseline data, identifying conservation priorities, and developing region-specific strategies.

Red List Aligned with Global Standards

• India’s national assessments will align with the globally accepted IUCN Red List methodology, ensuring compatibility with international conservation goals under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

India’s Biodiversity Richness

India is among the 17 megadiverse countries, home to,

• Four global biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas, Western Ghats, Indo-Burma, and Sundaland
• Over 104,000 faunal species
• More than 18,000 species of flowering plants
• Nearly 20,000 marine species

Impressively, 28% of plant species and 30% of animal species are endemic to India—making conservation an urgent national priority.

Legal and Global Commitments

• The initiative reinforces India’s strong biodiversity laws, such as the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, amended in 2022 to include protection for species listed under CITES appendices.
• This roadmap supports India’s national and international commitments to sustainability, species protection, and climate resilience.

The Red Data Book and Its Impact

India aims to publish Red Data Books for both flora and fauna by 2030. These books will serve as authoritative references for,

• Identifying endangered and vulnerable species
• Framing conservation budgets and policies
• Setting research priorities and funding allocation
• Raising public and policymaker awareness

Globally, the IUCN Red List has assessed over 163,000 species, with 28% at risk of extinction. India’s contribution through its national Red List will help close data gaps and accelerate global conservation efforts.

Key Takeaways:

• India launched the Red List Roadmap at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025.
• The roadmap will guide national conservation policy through 2030.
• Aims to publish National Red Data Books for flora and fauna.
• Aligned with IUCN and global biodiversity frameworks.