India Unveils National Red List Roadmap at IUCN World Conservation Congress

India Launches Ambitious Conservation Plan in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – India officially unveiled its National Red List Roadmap and Vision 2025-2030 at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025. The landmark initiative, launched on October 9, 2025, by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, signifies a major step towards establishing a comprehensive framework for species assessment and conservation in the country.

Speaking at the Asia Pavilion, Minister Singh emphasized that the roadmap would guide India's conservation strategy through 2030. He stated, 'Our government is collaborating closely with IUCN, and various departments are working together to prepare this Red List. Our future conservation policies will be based on the insights and data generated through this process, helping us identify endangered species and direct focused protection efforts.'

Vision 2025-2030: A Science-Based Approach

The Vision 2025-2030 document, developed by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) in collaboration with IUCN-India and the Centre for Species Survival, India, outlines a nationally coordinated, inclusive, and science-based system. This framework aims to accurately assess and monitor the conservation status of India's diverse flora and fauna.

Key objectives of this ambitious plan include:

• Establishing a comprehensive national database on threatened species.
• Aligning India's conservation framework with IUCN's globally accepted Red List methodology.
• Building capacity among institutions and experts for systematic species assessment.
• Integrating biodiversity data into national conservation planning and policy development.
• Promoting community participation and regional cooperation in conservation efforts.

The initiative is designed to fulfill India's commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF).

Assessing India's Rich Biodiversity

As part of the roadmap, India plans to undertake a comprehensive threat assessment of approximately 11,000 species, comprising 7,000 species of flora and 4,000 species of fauna. This will be the first comprehensive national effort of its kind in India, with the goal of publishing National Red Data Books for both flora and fauna by 2030.

India is recognized as one of the 17 megadiverse countries globally, hosting nearly 8% of the world's flora and 7.5% of its fauna, despite occupying only 2.4% of the global land area. The country is also home to four of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas, Western Ghats, Indo-Burma, and Sundaland. A significant portion of India's species are endemic, with 28% of plants and over 30% of animals being native to the country.

Strengthening Conservation Efforts

Minister Singh highlighted the crucial role of scientific documentation, such as the Red List, in identifying priorities and directing resources effectively. He noted that the initiative would help India 'channel its energies in the right direction, shaping more effective conservation policies for both flora and fauna.' The plan also emphasizes the integration of traditional knowledge in biodiversity conservation. This strategic move is expected to provide a strong scientific foundation for policymaking and planning apt conservation measures, especially in the face of climate change.