• BGCI: The global network
• Our work
• Our supporters and partners
• Join in
• Resource centre
• Education centre
• Climate change information centre

Which IUCN list should I choose?

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is updated annually - so categories for specfic plants will differ from year-to-year because of the annual changes that are made to the underlying data. Many factors can cause a change in status.

Broadly speaking, the 1997 IUCN Red List is based on a loose range of criteria. In 2004, IUCN adopted stricter criteria for listing plants, excluding many plants on the 1997 list, for example, where data was not sufficient to meet the new standards. As a result, the 2006 list actually shows fewer plants having a threatened status.

If you want more comprehensive results, choose the 1997 list.

For plants that have been more recently and thoroughly tested for conservation status use the 2006 criteria.

IUCN's Red List FAQ

Back to Plant Search