NEET 2025 ADDED SYLLABUS
RED DATA BOOKS AND IUCN
IUCN ( International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources which is now
called world Conservation Union (WCU). It has its headquarters at Gland, Switzerland.
It maintain a red data book or red list which is a catalogue of taxa facing risk of extinction.
To highlight the legal status of rare species for the purpose of conservation, the International
Union for Conservation of Nature Natural Resources (IUCN) has earlier ( 1963, 84, 88)
established the five main conservation categories.These are extinct, endangered, vulnerable, rare
and insufficiently known species.
IUCN later (2012) recognised nine red list categories of species. These are extinct ,extinct in the
wild, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened, least concern, data deficient
and not evaluated.
Using the IUCN categories, the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) has evaluated
and described threats to about 60,000 plant and 2000 animal species in its series of Red Data
Books.
Threatened species include which are endangered, vulnerable, and critically endangered in IUCN
categories.
The great majority of the species on these lists of Red Data Books are plants. However, there are
also species of fish (343), amphibians (50), reptiles (170), invertebrates (1355), birds (1037) and
mammals (497).
Red data book or red list was initiated in 1963. The 2000 Red list has made assessment of 18,000
species, out of which 11096 species (5485 animals and 5611 plants) are on the threatened list
world – wide. The number of threatened species has gone up to 15,500 (IUCN, 2004).and now it is
around 23,000 (IUCN ,2015).At present 2025 the number species facing threat of extinction are
46,337.
The purpose of preparation of red list is to
1) Provide awareness to the degree of threat to biodiversity,
2) Provide global index about already declined biodiversity,
3) Identify and document the number of species facing high – risk of extinction,
4) Prepare conservation priorities and help in conservation action, and
5) Provide information about international agreements like conversation on Biological Diversity
and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of wild Fauna and Flora).
Categories of Red list species:
1.Extinct
The taxon has been completely eliminated or died out from earth e.g., Dodo
2.Extinct in the Wild :
The taxon that is absent in any of its natural or expected habitats in the wild is known as extinct in
wild. A number of domesticated animals and plants have become extinct in the wild.
3.Critically Endangered :
These are taxon facing very high risk of extinction in the wild and can become extinct any
movement in the immediate future.
Eg., Porcula Salvania (Pygmy hog), Berbeis nighiriensis, Podophyllum.
4.Endangered
It is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future due to destruction of habitat,
excessive predation or poaching.
Examples of endangered species are blue whale, largest lemur idri idri of Madagascar, Asiatic
Wild Ass (Equus hemionus now restricted to Ran of Kutch) and lion tailed Macaque (in
Dipterocarpus forests of South India with total number of only 195 species).
5.Vulnerable species (depleted species)
Presently the population is sufficient but it is undergoing depletion due to some factors, thus, it is
facing risk of extinction in medium term future.
6.Near threatened species
Species that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, but does not quality
for threatened status currently. E.g., Mountain lion, Koala.
7.Least concern
A taxon is least concern when it has been evaluated against the criteria and does not qualify for
critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near threatened widespread and abundant taxa are
included in this category.
8. Data deficient species
The data for making direct or indirect assessment of risk of extinction is deficient. These are called
data deficient species.
9.Not evaluated species
The taxon that has not been evaluated for risk of extinction is called not evaluated.
10.Rare species (R) :They are species with naturally small populations, either localised or thinly
scattered, which are always at risk from pests/pathogens/predators/exotic species. Clouded leopard
(Neofelis nebulosa) of Himalayas is a rare species because of poching and loss of habitat. Great
Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is a rare species of birds found in parts of Gujarat and
Rajasthan due to destruction of natural habitat and poaching.
11.Indeterminate species : Species and subspecies of wildlife whose populations are suspected of
belonging to either one of endangered, vulnerable and rare categories but for which sufficient
information is not currently available to determine the definite status.
The important threatened animals in India
Endangered
The Asiatic Lion : Panthera leo persica
The Black Buck : Antelope cervicapra(State animal of A.P)
Red Panda :Ailurus ochraceus
Clouded Leopard : Neofelis nebulosa
Musk Deer :Moschus chrysogaster
The Lion Tailed Macaque : Macaca silenus
Kashmir Stag :Cervus elaphus hanglu
Siberian Crane :Grus leucogeranus
Snow Leopard :Uncia uncial
Great One Horned Rhino : Rhinoceros unicornis
National animals
Royal Bengal Tiger :Panthera tigris tigris(national animal of India)
Peacock : Pavo cristatus(national bird of India)
King Cobra :Ophiophagus hannah(national reptile of India)
Gangetic River Dolphin : Platanista gangetica (national aquatic animal)
Elephant : Elephaus maximus indicus (National heritage animal)
National Tree of India :Ficus bengalensis
7. Protected wildlife Protected areas
a. Lion Gir National Park, Junagarh
(Panthera leo persica) (Gujarat),(Project running)
b. Tiger i. Corbett National park,
(Panthera tigris) Naintial(Uttaranchal), (Project running)
ii. Hazaribag Sanctuary, Hazaribag (Jharkhand)
iii. Ranthambore National park (Rajasthan)
iv. Kanha National Park(MP)
v. sunderbans Tiger Reserve, 24 Parganas(West Bengal)
c. Snow leopard Khangchenzonga National Park
(panther uncial) (Gangtok)
d. Elephant i. Manas Sanctuary , Barpeta
(Elephas maximus) ii. Kaziranga National Park, Sibsagar, Jorhat(Assam)
iii. Simlipal Sanctuary, Mayurbhanj(Orissa)
e. Rhino i. Kaziranga Sanctuary, Mayurbhanj(Orissa)
(Rhinoceros unicoms) ii. Jaldapara Sanctuary
1. International day of biological diversity – May 22
2. The year of biodiversity – 2010
3. Biodiversity week – first week of October
4. The world forest day – 21 march
5. The man and Biosphere program (MAB) of UNESCO was established in -1971
6. World water day – march – 22
7. World earth day – April – 22
8. Wildlife protection Act – 1972
9. The largest bio-geographical region in India- Deccan peninsula(42%)
10. Largest mangrove forest of the world – sunder bans West Bengal
A. National Parks:
A national park is a tract of land reserved and maintained by a national government solely for the
welfare of entire wild life in it. Operations, such as plantation, cultivation, grazing are not allowed
in national parks. Private ownership rights and habitat manipulation are also not permit
B. Sanctuaries:
A sanctuary is an area reserved for the conservation of animals only. Operations, such as
procuring timber and minor forest products and private ownership rights are allowed provided
they do not affect the animals.
C. Biosphere reserve:
A biosphere reserve is a specified area in which multiple use of the land is permitted by dividing
it into zones, each for a particular activity.
D.Zones of a Biosphere Reserve : A biosphere reserve is divided into three zones: core, buffer and
manipulation.
(i) Core Zone----. No human activity is allowed in the core zone
(ii) Buffer Zone .,---- Limited human activity in the core zone
(iii) Manipulation Zone.---- Several human activities can occur in the manipulation zone
Role of biosphere Reserves. ----A biosphere reserve preserve has (a) wild populations, (b) life
style of tribal people, and (c) genetic resources of domesticated plants and animals.
2025 DATA
1. Number of biodiversity hotspots in world up to 2025 is------------36.
2. 35th Biodiversity hot spot of world is-------Sundaland (Andaman and Nicobar islands).
3. 36th Biodiversity hot spot of world is-------North America coastal plain.
4. Number of biosphere reserves in the world up to 2025 is--------------------18.
5. India’s 4th biodiversity hot spot is------- Sundaland (Andaman and Nicobar islands).-
6. Number of National Parks in the world up to 2025 is--------------------106.
7. Number of wildlife sanctuaries in the world up to 2025 is--------------573.
8. 2012 Biodiversity conservation summit was held at –Hyderabad.
9. 2022 Biodiversity conservation summit (COP-15) was held at—Montreal, Canada.
10. 2024 Biodiversity conservation summit (COP-16) was held at------ Cali, Colombia.
11.. 2025 Biodiversity conservation summit will be held at---Abu Dhabi, UAE.
12. 2026 Biodiversity conservation summit(COP-17) will be held at---YEREVAN, Armenia.
