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Conservation Tool

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Red List of Ecosystems

The Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Red List of Ecosystems is a tool to assess the conservation status of ecosystems. It is based on scientific criteria for performing evidence-based analyses of the risk of ecosystem collapse, including changes in geographical distribution and the degradation of the key elements of ecosystems.

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countriesÌýfully assessed

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In brief

The Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Red List of Ecosystems measures the relative risks of ecosystem collapse for terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems at subnational, national, regional and global scales.

Information providedÌý

The toolÌýprovides the information below for every ecosystem assessed:

  • Ecosystem description with informationÌýonÌýunique biodiversityÌý ("native biota"),Ìýnon-living characteristics, such as geology ("abiotic environment"),Ìýkey processes,Ìýspatial distribution, and the relation with theÌý
  • Ecosystem diagnosis, based on a model describing the functioning of ecosystems, howÌýmajor threats affect ecosystem sustainability and how risks were assessed

  • Ecosystem statusÌýwhich isÌýassigned depending on the risks identified within each criterion and the overall risk of ecosystem collapse, summarised by the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ riskÌýcategory.

  • Assessment data, which includesÌýspatial data,Ìýtime series data,ÌýmetadataÌýused to assess the criteria for each ecosystem type

Red List of Ecosystems as a Global IndicatorÌý

Red List of Ecosystems as a Headline Indicator in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework:

The adopted by parties of the , establishing the agenda for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. This framework sets four primary goals for 2050 and 23 action targets.Ìý For the first time, a monitoring framework was adopted to ensure continuous progress review, featuring headline, component, and complementary indicators. The Red List of Ecosystems, using the Red List Index for Ecosystems, is a headline indicator for Goal A and Target 1, and also supports Targets 2, 3, and 7.ÌýÌý

While the Red List of Ecosystems has seen rapid uptake across the world over the last decade with full assessments for over 60 countries/territories and over 4000 ecosystems assessed, this inclusion signifies a major step forward. This will result in an expanded and accelerated implementation of the Red List of Ecosystems in each country and globally, to support the monitoring framework, planning and implementation world-wide.Ìý

The Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ risk categories

Definitions
  • (CO):Ìýecosystems collapsed throughout the assessed distribution
  • (CR), (EN),Ìý(VU):Ìý ecosystems facing collapse
  • (NE):Ìýecosystems close to the threatened threshold or threatened without ongoing conservation measures in the future
  • (LC): ecosystems evaluated as at low risk of collapse
  • (DD): Ìýecosystems for which too few data existÌý
  • (NE): ecosystems that have not yet been assessed

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Users and benefits

Main users

Assessments are usuallyÌýcarried out by:

  • Local and national governments
  • Conservation practitioners
  • Academic institutions

Assessments can be useful for a variety of other stakeholdersÌýtoo, such as land use planners and advocates, policymakers, donor agencies and programme developers as well as businesses, companies and investors.

Main applications

The Red List of Ecosystems has many applications, including to assess and highlight risks to ecosystems, guide national and international conservation strategies, prioritise and monitor restoration action, inform land use planning, inform laws and regulations, provide recommendations on how to manage industries, raise public awareness or report on multilateral agreements.

ÌýLearn more about RLE applicationÌý​

Success stories

The marine habitat of Tammisaari Archipelago National Park on Finland’s southern coast has been surveyd in the national underwater biodiversity programme Velmu

The Red List of Ecosystems has served measuring progress towards global targetsÌýinÌý, , Ìý andÌý


Parque Cerro Castillo / Chile

After the fires in 2017, the Red List of Ecosystems has servedÌýplanningÌýecosystemÌýrestoration in Chile.The provided methodology for future restoration applications.


rle global map

Featured resources

The RLE partnership

The Red List of Ecosystems is . Founding partners include:ÌýThe University of New South Wales,ÌýDeakin University, Arizona State University, Provita,ÌýWildlife Conservation Society, Coastal Oceans Research and Development,ÌýConservation International (Colombia), and Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥.

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥â€™s involvement

Two Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ bodies have supported the partnership since the inception of the Red List of EcosystemsÌýin 2008Ìýand the launch of the platform in 2014:Ìýthe ÌýandÌýthe Global Ecosystem Management Programme, now part of Ìý.

The role of the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Congress

In 2014 Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ adoptedÌýthe Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Red List of Ecosystems Categories and Criteria as the global standardÌýfor assessing the status of ecosystems, following two resolutionsÌýfrom Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Members.

In 2021,ÌýtheÌýÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Global Ecosystem TypologyÌýcompleted the standard, following a 2020 resolution.

Definition of categories

In its 2008 resolution, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Members asked for quantitative thresholds for categories and criteria of threatened ecosystems.

Consolidation of the RLE

In 2021, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Members asked for the consolidation of the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Red List of Ecosystems.

The Global Ecosystem Typology

In 2020, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Members approved a resolution to support the RLE partnership and the new Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Global Ecosystem Typology.

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Online courses

The RLE partnership benefits from a vibrant learning community and proposes courses for beginners and advanced users:Ìý

  • Introduction course -Ìý
    Proposed by Deakin University,Ìýone of RLE partners.
    ThisÌýcourseÌýtakes between 4-6 hours and provides an overview of the tool and the criteria and provides an introduction on the application of RLE.
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  • Advanced course -ÌýÌý
    Proposed by the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Academy.Ìý
    ThisÌýcourse takes about 12 hours to complete, and provides in-depth understanding of the RLE methodology, the thresholds, and the calculation methods.Ìý

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Getting started

Ecosystem assessments are usually carried out with the support of academic institutions or technical specialists.