What is the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species?
Since its establishment, IUCN scientists and volunteers have been developing conservation science, managing field projects all over the world and have worked with governments, NGOs and key players to develop, and implement policy, laws and best practices. Since 1963, the IUCN, through its Species Survival Commission (SSC) has been assessing the conservation status of a taxon (species, subspecies, varieties), and selected sub-populations, on a global scale using the IUCN Red List system. The purpose of this assessment is to highlight taxa that are threatened with extinction and therefore promote their conservation through publications of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is a comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species, using a set of five quantitative criteria (A-E) and nine categories (Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern, Data
