Global vs National Red List Assessments

The IUCN Red List of Categories and Criteria were developed for applying at a global level i.e. to take into account a species entire global distribution that may cross international borders. The majority of species currently on the IUCN Red List are global assessments. However, species can be assessed at a regional, national or local level and for these, assessors should use the Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels, an adaptation of the global Categories and Criteria. These regional guidelines provide additional guidance on:

  • Deciding on which species should be assessed at a regional, national or local level

  • Additional categories for assessments at a regional, national and a local level

  • Assessing breeding vs non-breeding species at a regional, national and a local level

  • Integrating information on the species from across its global distribution in regional, national and a local assessments.

It should be noted that regional, national or local assessments of species that are endemic to those regions are, by default, global assessments and no additional regional correction is needed.

It is important to realise that while these guidelines are in place to assist with regional and national assessments, national and regional red lists may not have followed the IUCN guidelines for assessing species. For more information about national Red Lists published by countries around the world, see the National Red List website.

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