Source: DD News
Context: At the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi, Union MoS for Environment launched India’s National Red List Roadmap and Vision 2025–2030.
About India’s National Red List Roadmap:
What It Is?
- A national initiative to create an integrated Red List assessment system for identifying, classifying, and conserving India’s threatened species — aligned with IUCN global standards.
Organisation involved:
- Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Botanical Survey of India (BSI), in collaboration with IUCN-India and the Centre for Species Survival (CSS), India.
Aim:
- To establish a nationally coordinated, inclusive, and science-based red-listing system for accurate species assessment, evidence-based conservation planning, and informed policymaking.
- To fulfil India’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
Key Features:
- Comprehensive multi-taxa coverage: First-of-its-kind national effort assessing both flora and fauna, including terrestrial and marine biodiversity.
- Publication of National Red Data Books for flora and fauna by 2030.
- Integration of traditional knowledge for community-driven biodiversity documentation.
- Science-based threat assessment and conservation prioritization using IUCN’s globally accepted methodologies.
- Collaborative structure involving taxonomists, conservation scientists, and policymakers for unified national data.
About Vision 2025–2030 Document:
- What It Is?
- A strategic vision framework outlining India’s roadmap for biodiversity assessment and conservation for the period 2025–2030, aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals and KMGBF targets.
- Objectives:
- To create a centralised biodiversity database and promote data-driven conservation decisions.
- To strengthen species identification and taxonomy through collaboration among experts.
- Key Features:
- Establishes a national coordination network connecting scientific, academic, and local institutions.
- Promotes baseline data generation for threatened species to guide future Wildlife Action Plans.
- Encourages use of digital tools and GIS mapping for species monitoring.
- Emphasizes equity and inclusivity, ensuring representation of local and indigenous communities.
- Sets a 2030 target for publishing India’s comprehensive Red Data Books and updating threat categories.
