Release of 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

September 2007

What: Launch of the 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the world’s most authoritative assessment of the earth’s animals and plants.

When: Wednesday, 12 September, 2007

Why: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most reliable evaluation of the global status of plants and animals. It classifies species according to their extinction risk and brings into sharp focus the ongoing decline of the world’s biodiversity.

The 2007 Red List will reveal:

• The latest number of known threatened species around the world
• Animal and plant species which have undergone a change in status
• Newly assessed species appearing on the list for the first time
• The latest conservation success stories in fighting the extinction crisis

It also aims to provide an accurate measure of progress, or lack of it, in achieving the globally-agreed target to significantly reduce the current rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.

Who: Leading IUCN spokespeople will be available for interview.

A full 2007 Red List media package will be available on-line, including:

• Case studies of threatened species
• Highlights of the key changes in status
• Photo gallery
• Two-minute video B roll
• Fact sheets on key species

 For more information and to arrange interviews please contact:

• Lynette Lew, IUCN Marketing and Communications Officer, Species Programme, Tel: +41 22 999 0153; Fax: +41 22 999 0015; e-mail: lynette.lew@iucn.org  
• Sarah Halls, IUCN Global Communications Media Officer, Tel: +41 22 999 0127; Fax: +41 22 999 0020; e-mail: sarah.halls@iucn.org