India unveils national red list roadmap at conservation congress

As the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress 2025 commenced in Abu Dhabi today, India launched its National Red List Roadmap, a comprehensive framework aimed at protecting the country’s rich biodiversity. The initiative was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, who emphasized its alignment with global standards to address species extinction and climate threats. Developed by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Botanical Survey of India (BSI) in partnership with IUCN-India, the roadmap sets out a five-year plan (2025–2030) to assess the conservation status of 11,000 native species of flora and fauna. By 2030, India aims to publish its National Red Data Books, providing the country’s first comprehensive inventory of threatened species. "This is more than a document; it's a call to action for science-driven conservation that integrates traditional knowledge and equitable practices," Shri Singh stated.

The IUCN World Conservation Congress, held every four years and attended by over 9,000 delegates from governments, NGOs, Indigenous groups, businesses, and academia, is often described as the "United Nations for nature." This year’s edition (October 9–15) is critical in the face of unprecedented biodiversity loss, climate tipping points, and 2030 deadlines for the Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF). The Congress debates and votes on 40 binding motions, shaping international environmental policies and funding priorities. Its five core themes Scaling Up Resilient Conservation Action, Reducing Climate Overshoot Risks, Delivering on Equity, Transitioning to Nature-Positive Economies and Societies, and Disruptive Innovation and Leadership provide a blueprint for halting nature’s decline. For India, a megadiverse nation hosting 8% of the world’s species on just 2.4% of the global land area, the Congress provides a platform to highlight hotspots like the Himalayas and Western Ghats while reinforcing commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Key outcomes from the Congress include an updated IUCN Red List assessing over 169,400 species, adoption of resolutions on glacier and forest protection, Indigenous sacred sites, nature-positive agriculture, and biodiversity-focused carbon crediting. Awards such as the Cullman and John C. Phillips Medals for conservation excellence, and the International Ranger Awards, will be announced, alongside the host for the next World Parks Congress. India’s National Red List Roadmap specifically targets biodiversity action plan goals, focusing on species protection, genetic diversity, and equitable benefit-sharing. It integrates AI, remote sensing, and Indigenous knowledge to establish a coordinated system for threat evaluation. The initiative positions India as a leader among Asian nations like Bangladesh and China in multi-taxa assessments, with a uniquely collaborative and comprehensive approach.

The roadmap is expected to drive tangible conservation outcomes, including habitat restoration in biodiversity hotspots and threat mitigation for endemic species, which constitute over 30% of India’s fauna. By 2030, the initiative could halve extinction risks for assessed species, supported by increased funding through IUCN partnerships and international donors. Emphasizing Indigenous involvement and youth-led solutions, the roadmap also promotes nature-positive economies, creating livelihoods while protecting ecosystems. Globally, India’s model could inspire more than 20 megadiverse nations to launch similar assessments, contributing to a "nature-positive" world where economic growth restores ecosystems instead of depleting them. As Shri Singh remarked, "Through this initiative, India reaffirms its commitment to a shared natural heritage," highlighting a vision where extinction can be reversed, and sustainability secured for generations.