India to Assess Extinction Risk of 11,000 Wildlife and Plant Species, Prepare 'Red List'

In a landmark move for environmental conservation, the Government of India has announced a nationwide initiative to assess the extinction risk of approximately 11,000 species, including 7,000 plant species and 4,000 animal species. The initiative aims to create a comprehensive National Red List, aligning India’s efforts with international frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The assessment will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in collaboration with key institutions including the Botanical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India, and the Wildlife Institute of India. The process will involve systematic data collection, field surveys, and expert evaluation to determine the conservation status of species across various ecosystems.

By identifying species at risk, the National Red List is expected to inform conservation strategies, prioritize policy interventions, and guide resource allocation. It will also help strengthen protection measures for endangered species, combat habitat loss, and support initiatives like protected areas, wildlife corridors, and ecosystem restoration projects.

The initiative underscores India’s recognition of its rich and diverse biodiversity, which plays a crucial role in ecological balance, climate resilience, and sustaining livelihoods, especially in rural and forest-dependent communities. Additionally, it reinforces India’s commitment to international biodiversity targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Experts note that compiling such a comprehensive Red List will be a challenging task due to the vast number of species, regional variations, and data gaps. Nevertheless, the effort is seen as pivotal for evidence-based conservation, helping India safeguard its natural heritage and contribute meaningfully to global biodiversity conservation efforts.