Biodiversity and the IUCN Red List
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth — across genes, species and ecosystems. Its conservation status is tracked globally by the IUCN Red List.
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth — across genes, species and ecosystems. Its conservation status is tracked globally by the IUCN Red List.
Levels of biodiversity
Biodiversity is studied at three levels: genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity.
IUCN Red List categories
The IUCN Red List classifies species by extinction risk: Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild and Extinct. It is the most widely used measure of conservation status.
Hotspots in India
India hosts parts of four global biodiversity hotspots — the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the Indo-Burma region and Sundaland (Nicobar Islands).
Why it matters for UPSC
IUCN Red List categories and India's biodiversity hotspots are among the most reliably tested Environment topics in Prelims.
Practise related UPSC PYQs
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Practise PYQs →Frequently asked questions
What are the levels of biodiversity?
Genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity.
How many biodiversity hotspots does India have parts of?
Four — the Himalayas, Western Ghats, Indo-Burma and Sundaland.