Red List of Threatened Ecosystems

The IUCN is known of its authoritative Red List of Threatened Species, but researchers have recently developed criteria for assessing the vulnerability of individual ecosystems. Pilot testing in 20 ecosystems around the world, they found at one extreme the Aral Sea, which collapsed in the 1980-90s. Such information is vital for evidence-based environmental management. Other new IUCN initiatives include the Green List, which recognises efforts to prevent ecosystems from becoming more threatened, and a list of 100 most threatened species from the World Conservation Congress 2012 in Jeju, South Korea. http://theconversation.com/identifying-ecosystems-at-risk-the-new-iucn-red-list-14011; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/16/red-list-of-endangered-ecosystems_n_1888472.html