The Red Listing of Cacti and Succulents

In order to assist the global conservation of cacti and succulents, the CSSG made it one of its primary goals to assist with the evaluation of all cactus and succulent species according to the IUCN Red List Categories.

The IUCN Red List Categories are intended to be an easily and widely understood system for classifying species at high risk of global extinction. The general aim of the system is to provide an explicit, objective framework for the classification of the broadest range of species according to their extinction risk.

For a taxon to be included on the global IUCN Red List, it is necessary for the assessment to be subject to a peer review process. To help facilitate this, a system of Red List Authorities has been established (in most cases these are the IUCN SSC Specialist Groups) which will ensure all species within their jurisdiction are assessed and evaluated at regular intervals. All assessments should be submitted to the IUCN Red List Programme Officer, who in turn will forward them to the appropriate Red List Authorities for evaluation if necessary.

So far, the CSSG contributed about 400 assessments of cacti towards the IUCN Red List, 215 of which are published on the official IUCN Red List website (www.redlist.org) (taxa assessed as “Least Concern” are not yet listed on the internet version of the IUCN Red List).

The CSSG wants to encourage everybody holding relevant information on cacti and succulents to support the Red Listing. The relevant guidelines and documents explaining the Red Listing process can be downloaded from the following websites: IUCN Red List Categories, Authority Files for Habitats and Threats

Should you require any further assistance or information please contact the chairman (Dr. Héctor M. Hernández, email: ) or secretary (Dr. Wolfgang Stuppy, email: ).