Threatened species

The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria are intended to be an easily and widely understood system for classifying species at high risk of global extinction. The general aim of the system is to provide an explicit, objective framework for the classification of the broadest range of species according to their extinction risk.

Back from the Brink celebrates the remarkable resolve of innumerable people and institutions to save the ever-rising numbers of threatened species. This volume highlights twenty-five species through spectacular photographs accompanied by descriptive profiles that mention species' threats, causes for their decline and the remarkable efforts that have saved them from extinction.

This updated publication is an effort to publicize the plight of tortoises and freshwater turtles by highlighting those species that are at the highest risk of extinction, in hopes that by calling greater attention to these magnifcent animals, we can help generate more international attention, more resources, and more conservation action to save them.

Dugongs have high cultural value and are a valued source of food, medicine and artifacts and thus are an important species for coastal people. Dugongs also play a significant ecological role in maintaining coastal habitats.

A book illustrating the conservation status of thousands of plants and animals in the countries of the South African Development Community.

This book describes the 14 sites in Fiji which are of global importance for bird conservation. These Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are priorities for conserving the natural heritage of Fiji for future generations. Fiji's rich natural heritage includes 11 threatened bird species and 27 endemic bird species.

Vultures are a characteristic, distinctive and spectacular component of the biodiversity of the environments they inhabit. They also provide critically important ecosystem services by cleaning up carcasses and other organic waste in the environment. The IUCN Red List status of African-Eurasian vultures has seen drastic changes for the worse in recent years.