Tracking Change in National-Level Conservation Status: National Red Lists

Tracking change in species extinction risk provides an effective metric with which to follow trends in biodiversity. One of the most widely applied classifications of the relative risk of extinction of species is the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. This chapter explores the prospect of taking the Red List Index (RLI), a global indicator of change in species extinction risk, and applying it at the regional and national level. It discusses how data coverage and data integrity are important factors in extending the utility of this index. The chapter looks in detail at the National Red List process in two countries, Venezuela and South Africa, and looks at how lessons may be learned from their experiences, and applied to other countries. It also sets out the potential strengths and limitations to using extinction risk indices to monitor change in biodiversity.