Catalyzing Red List Assessments of Underrepresented Taxa through Partner Networks and Student Engagement

Abstract

Global biodiversity decline is continuing largely unabated. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species (hereafter, Red List) provides us with the gold standard for assessments, but taxonomic coverage, especially for invertebrates and fungi, remains very low. Many players contribute to the Red List knowledge base, especially IUCN Red List partners, IUCN-led assessment projects, and the Specialist Groups and Red List Authorities (RLA) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. However, it is vital that we develop the next generation of contributors and bring in new, diverse voices to build capacity and to sustain the huge assessment effort required to fill data gaps. Here, we discuss a recently established partner network to build additional capacity for species assessments, by linking academia directly into the assessment processes run by Specialist Groups and RLAs. We aim to increase Red List “literacy” amongst potential future conservationists and help students to increase publication output, form professional networks, and develop writing and research skills. Professors can build Red List learning into their teaching and offer Red Listing opportunities to students as assignments or research projects that directly contribute to the Red List. We discuss the opportunities presented by the approach, especially for underrepresented species groups, and the challenges that remain.

The global influence of the IUCN Red List can hinder species conservation efforts

“…The assessment process requires wider consultations and should improve its alignment with local realities (Tomasini 2018). This will require the support of regional initiatives for assessments (Bachman et al 2019), increasing equal collaboration with experts (Armenteras 2021), strengthening national and regional capacities for conservation (Zhang et al 2023), and communicating with researchers and partner networks (Böhm et al 2022;Cazalis et al 2023) to enhance the integration and coordination among conservation stakeholders (Echeverri et al 2023). This likely involves diversifying how information is incorporated using a broader user base, more inclusive modes of review, and at a faster pace.…”

“…Fremout et al 2020 2 Ceccarelli et al 2022 3 Gaisberger et al 2022 4 Button & Borzée 2021 5 Pollock et al 2020, 6 Brum et al 2017, 7 Griffith et al 2023 8 Isaac et al 2007 9 Gumbs et al 2023 10 Schmidt et al 2023 11 Akçakaya et al 2006; 12 Trull et al 2017 13 Peng et al 2023 14 Bachman et al 2019 15 Böhm et al 2022 16 Cazalis et al 2022 17 Armenteras 2021 18 Echeverri et al 2023 19 Brodie et al 2018 20 24 Joseph et al 2009 25 Muhl et al, 2022 26 Chaplin-Kramer et al 2022 27 Ocampo-Ariza et al 2023 28 Braga-Pereira et al 2022 29 Buxton et al 2020 30 Oberhauser et al 2017 31 Wyborn & Evans 2021…”