Use of IUCN Red Listing process as a basis for assessing biodiversity threats and impacts in environmental impact assessment

Abstract

The impact of developments on biodiversity is a critical aspect to be considered in environmental impact assessment (EIA). The Red Listing process has been developed by IUCN — The World Conservation Union — to assess changes in the degree of threat to species. It assesses the status of a species according to such criteria as population size and rate of change, distribution and its rate of change, and threats to population numbers and/or habitat. It uses a systematic but pragmatic approach, and available information to assess status. It can be used in EIA to determine the extent to which key endangered species might be affected by a proposal. It can also be used to evaluate the degree of threat to a species before and after a development is implemented. The benefits of using such a tool rest on an established methodology and criteria for assessment. This paper explains the Red Listing process and provides examples from SE Asia to illustrate its potential application in EIA. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.