National and subnational Red Lists in European and Mediterranean countries: current state and use for conservation

In the context of ongoing biodiversity loss and limited resources allocated to nature conservation, operational tools to prioritize and implement relevant conservation actions are crucial. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (RLTS) is recognized as the most comprehensive tool for assessing risk of species extinction, based on a standardized methodology that is applicable for most taxa and geographic regions. Now established at regional, national and subnational scales, Red Lists have grown rapidly and autonomously thanks to active local initiatives. We investigated national and subnational Red Lists in 53 European and Mediterranean countries to get an overview of their ongoing development and uses in this region in 2014. Through an online questionnaire, we identified national Red Lists in 41 countries and subnational Red Lists in 16 countries. The public sector is the main coordinator and funder of RLTSs, while the IUCN has a limited involvement in local initiatives. Availability of data and expertise are the main factors determining the choice of taxonomic groups to be assessed. Red Lists, notably national ones, are widely used in national conservation initiatives, mainly to prioritize species and sites. However, there are taxonomic and geographic coverage gaps and increased investment is needed to train experts and improve data quantity and quality. A worldwide strategy for development of regional RLTSs needs to be drawn up, along with the strengthening of a network of producers and users to increase their potential to contribute to biodiversity conservation.