The Red Data Book
The excessive growth of population and rapid development activity in scientific and agricultural fields resulted in overexploitation of natural resources. In 1968, at an International Conference, the importance of conservation of natural flora and fauna was appreciated. Several recommendations were made urging the International Biological Programme (IBP), the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and different national and international organizations to initiate studies for protection and preservation of flora and fauna in their natural habitats and ecosystems by establishment of natural reserves. Date sheets were prepared in order to identify the state of verity of the species, along with the available information’s about them. IUCN, also known as the World Conservation Union, with Headquarters at Gland, Switzerland, is the premier coordinating body for international conservation efforts.
The Red Data Book categories used by IUCN indicate the degree of threat to individual species in their wild habitats. These categories are used for both flora and fauna. IUCN has established five main conservation categories-Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, rare and insufficiently known species. Using IUCN categories, World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) has evaluated and deseribed threats to about 60,000 plants and 2000 animal species in its series of Red Data Book. In 1978, IUCN published IUCN plant Red Data Book and in 1988, IUCN published IUCN Red list of threatened animals. In India, discussion about threatened plants took place in the 11th Technical Meeting of IUCN in the year 1969. A booklet entitled “Threatened Plants of India” was published by Botanical Survey of India. In 1984, a book entitled, The Indian Plant Red Data Book I with 125 Data sheers of flowering plants was edited by S K Jain and A R K Sastry from the Botanical Survery of India. The first volume of the Red Data Books on Indian Plants was edited by M P Nayar and A R K Sastry was published by Botanical survery of India in 1987. Compiling the data collected by threatened and endemic plant species by researches all over India. IUCN Plant Red Data Book categories have been adapted in assigning status for each spaces. Vol. II and Vol. III of Red Data Book on Indian Plants was published in the year 1988, and 1990 by the Botanical Survery of India (BSI). Red Data Book-IUCN book compining of pink coloured loose sheet containing names of plants and animal species which are endangered to extinction. The Red Data Book categories used by International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resoures are mentioned below, along with their formal definitions and necessary additional informations to be of use to the botanists.
1. EXTINCT: This category is used for species which are no longer known to exist in the wild after repeated searches of the type localities and other known or likely places. This includes species that are extinct in the wild but surviving in cultivation.
2. ENDANGERED: Taxa in danger of extinction and whose surrival is unlikely if the causal factors continue operating. Included are taxa whose numbers been so drastically reduced that they are deemed to be in immediate danger of extinction.
3. VULNERABLE: Taxa believed likely to move into the Endangered Category in the near future if the causal factors continue operating. Included arc taxa of which most extensive destruction of habitat or have been seriously depleted and populations that are still abundant their range.”
4. RARE: Taxa with small world populations that are not at present Endangered or Vulnerable but are at risk. These taxa are usually localized within restricted geographial areas or habitats or are thinly scattered over a more extensive range.”
5. INSUFFICIENTLY: Taxa that are suspected but not definitely known to belong to any of the above categories because of the lack of information.” ‘Insufficiently known’ may be species of a complex genus, much of which is thought to be in some danger and whose members are not easily distinguished by field characters. An ‘Insufficiently known’ species can always be transferred to another category when further information becomes available.
6. Indeterminate: It is the category used to “Taxa known to be Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable or Rare but where there is not enough information to say which of the four categories is appropriate.,’
7. Out of Danger: It is the category used to “Taxa formerly included in one of the above categories, but which are now considered relatively secure because effective conservation measures have been taken or the previous threat to their survival has been removed.
“In practice, Endangered and Vulnerable categories may include, temporarily, taxa whose populations are beginning to recover as a result of remedial action, but whose recovery is insufficient to justify their transfer to another category.
Only species in the categories ‘Extinct’, ‘Endangered’, ‘Vulnerable’, ‘Rare’, or Indeterminate’ are included in the Red Data Book and on lists of rare and threatened species.
IUCN, in their Red Data Book enlist names of species, which may become extinct in near future. Preservation of their natural habitat prevent them from getting extinct. In-situ methods are used accordingly. Ex-situ methods may be used wherever applicable. Ex-situ methods deal with rehabilitation of species in sanctuaries, national parks, botanical gardens, etc. Desired traits may be preserved for future biotechnological use by storing them at very low temperature. This method called Cryogenic technique is used for reproductive material and tissue culture. Using IUCN categories, the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) has evaluated and described threats to about 60,000 plants and 2000 animal species in its series of Red Data Book.