Environment and Ecology — IUCN Classification
1. IUCN Red List (Red Data Book)
Context: Launched in 1964, the IUCN Red List is the most comprehensive global inventory of species' conservation status. (UPSC 2011)
- Focus: Threatened species — Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable.
- Pink Pages: Critically Endangered species.
- Green Pages: Species recovered & no longer threatened.
IUCN stands for International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is an organization that works to protect biodiversity and promote sustainability. (UPSC 2015)
2. IUCN Red List Categories
Context: Species are classified into 9 categories based on their conservation status.
| Category | Abbreviation | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Extinct | EX | No individuals left |
| Extinct in the Wild | EW | Only survives in captivity |
| Critically Endangered | CR | Extremely high risk of extinction |
| Endangered | EN | High risk of extinction |
| Vulnerable | VU | High risk of becoming endangered |
| Near Threatened | NT | Likely to become endangered soon |
| Least Concern | LC | Widespread & abundant |
| Data Deficient | DD | Insufficient data |
| Not Evaluated | NE | Not assessed yet |
Key Takeaways for UPSC
- IUCN Red List — Launched in 1964; most comprehensive global inventory of species' conservation status (UPSC 2011)
- IUCN — International Union for Conservation of Nature; works to protect biodiversity and promote sustainability (UPSC 2015)
- Threatened Species — Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable
- Pink Pages — Critically Endangered species
- Green Pages — Species recovered & no longer threatened
- 9 Categories: EX, EW, CR, EN, VU, NT, LC, DD, NE
High-Yield Interactive UPSC Quiz (Species in News — IUCN Classification)
Q1. The IUCN Red List was launched in which year?
Correct Answer: C. The IUCN Red List was launched in 1964. It is the most comprehensive global inventory of species' conservation status. (UPSC 2011)
Q2. IUCN stands for:
Correct Answer: A. IUCN stands for International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is an organization that works to protect biodiversity and promote sustainability. (UPSC 2015)
Q3. Which category represents species with "extremely high risk of extinction"?
Correct Answer: B. Critically Endangered (CR) species have an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Q4. What are the Pink Pages in the IUCN Red List?
Correct Answer: B. Pink Pages represent Critically Endangered species in the IUCN Red List.
Q5. What are the Green Pages in the IUCN Red List?
Correct Answer: B. Green Pages represent species that have recovered and are no longer threatened in the IUCN Red List.
Q6. How many categories are there in the IUCN Red List classification?
Correct Answer: C. Species are classified into 9 categories: EX, EW, CR, EN, VU, NT, LC, DD, and NE.
Q7. Which of the following is NOT a threatened species category?
Correct Answer: D. Least Concern (LC) species are widespread and abundant, not considered threatened. The threatened categories are Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable.
Q8. What does the abbreviation "EN" stand for in IUCN classification?
Correct Answer: C. EN stands for Endangered, which indicates a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Q9. A species that only survives in captivity is classified as:
Correct Answer: B. Extinct in the Wild (EW) means the species only survives in captivity, cultivation, or naturalized populations outside its historic range.
Q10. The IUCN Red List focuses on which categories of species?
Correct Answer: C. The IUCN Red List primarily focuses on threatened species, which include Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable categories.