In much the same way as a barometer measures atmospheric pressure to help us prepare for adverse weather conditions, The IUCN Red List measures the pressures acting on species, which guides and informs conservation actions to help prevent extinctions. This is why The IUCN Red List is often referred to as a Barometer of Life.
To date, more than 163,000 species have been assessed for the Red List. This is an incredible achievement. However, our work is not complete. We need to increase the number of assessments for animal, fungi and plant species to ensure that The IUCN Red List continues to serve as a powerful conservation tool.
THE GOAL: 260,000 species
The first Barometer of Life target of assessing at least 160,000 species was achieved by 2024. Our current goal, based on The IUCN Red List 2021-2030 Strategic Plan, is to assess at least 260,000 species and to reassess 142,000 of those species. Achieving this will further improve the ability of The IUCN Red List to provide the most up-to-date information on the health of the world’s biodiversity, and thereby guide critical conservation actions.
