IUCN Red List of Ecosystems facts for kids

The change in the sea of Aral from 1989 to 2003. It is an example of a Collapsed (CO) ecosystem. (Source of the image: NASA)

The IUCN Red list of Ecosystems (RLE) is a global framework to monitor and document the status of ecosystems. Its main aim is to support the conservation and the use of resources. It is hoped to evaluate all ecosystems by 2025.

The Red List of Ecosystem was developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They also created the  Red List of Threatened Species™; a global frame to monitor the level of risk of animal and plant species.

Images for kids

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  LRE - Knowledge product of IUCN/CEM

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  Image of the Aral sea in 1989 (left) and 2014. The Aral sea is an example of a Collapsed (CO) ecosystem. (image source: NASA)

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  Schematic of categories to classify ecosystems according to the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems criteria

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  The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System is considered Critically Endangered (CR).

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  The tidal flats of the Yellow Sea are considered Endangered (EN).

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  European Reed beds are considered Vulnerable (VU).

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  Tepui shrublands are considered Least Concern (LC).

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  The Costa Rican Páramo have been evaluated as Data Deficient and are pending further studies to assess their risk of collapse.

See also

In Spanish: Lista Roja de Ecosistemas de la UICN para niños