IUCN Green Status
Why in news?
Recently, the lion (Panthera leo) has become the first species to receive a Green Status assessment.
Background:
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) introduced the Green Status of Species to complement its existing Red List. This new addition focuses not only on extinction risk but also on recovery and ecological functionality of species.
Relevance:
GS-03 (Conservation)
What is the IUCN Green Status of Species?
- Background:
- It was proposed during the 2012 World Conservation Congress.
- The Green Status framework aims to track conservation success and species recovery across historical ranges.
- Purpose:
- It complements the Red List: While the Red List categorizes species by extinction risk, the Green Status provides insight into how far a species has recovered and what actions are needed.
- Measures Conservation Success: It shows how effective past efforts have been and where more focus is needed.
Green Status of the Lion (Panthera leo)
- Current Status:
- Listed as vulnerable on the Red List.
- Classified as “Largely Depleted” on the Green Status.
- Green Score: Indicates lions are no longer ecologically functional in large parts of their historical range.
- Human Impact: Human activities have heavily disrupted lion populations, particularly in North Africa and Southwest Asia, where they are now extinct.
- Conservation Success: Positive efforts in India, South Africa, and parts of West and Central Africa have prevented further extinctions.
Key Features of Green Status
- Defines Species Recovery Based on Three Criteria:
- Present in historical range (including human-impacted areas).
- Viable populations across range.
- Performing ecological functions.
- Green Score (0–100%): Measures the degree of species recovery based on the above factors.
- 8 Green Status Categories:
- Extinct in the Wild
- Critically Depleted
- Largely Depleted
- Moderately Depleted
- Slightly Depleted
- Fully Recovered
- Non-Depleted
- Indeterminate
- 100+ Assessments: Over 100 species now have a green status on the IUCN Red List platform.
Significance
- Shifts focus from just extinction avoidance to restoration and resilience.
- Encourages targeted conservation even for species with low extinction risk but low ecological presence.
- Helps policymakers allocate resources effectively based on actual recovery needs.
Prelims Practice Question
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the IUCN Green Status of Species:
- It measures the extinction risk of species across their global range.
- A species is considered “fully recovered” if it is viable and ecologically functional in all parts of its historical range.
- The lion is the first species to receive an IUCN Green Status assessment and has been classified as “Moderately Depleted.”
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 1 and 2 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A. 2 only
