Strengthening the IUCN Red List capacity across the Western Balkans

Bringing together representatives of key institutions and specialists working on species conservation, the training is designed to strengthen understanding of how to establish and implement Red List programmes at national and local levels, support the consistent application of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, and encourage regional exchange, collaboration and future joint initiatives.

“The IUCN Red List is one of the most important tools we have for understanding the status of species and helping guide conservation action,” said Neil Cox, Manager of the Biodiversity Assessment Unit, a joint initiative of Conservation International and IUCN. “Trainings like this are essential because they help build the knowledge and institutional capacity needed to apply Red List standards consistently, improve biodiversity monitoring, and support better-informed conservation decisions.”

The programme covers both practical and strategic dimensions of Red List work. The IUCN Red List is the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animal, fungus and plant species and a key indicator of the health of biodiversity. It is widely used to inform conservation action, planning and policy by providing data on species’ distribution, population trends, habitats, threats and conservation measures.

Training sessions focus on guidelines for establishing national Red List programmes, regional Red List assessments and opportunities for data exchange, assessments of local endemic species and their contribution to the global Red List, and the use of Red List Indices for monitoring and reporting under global and regional policy frameworks. 

Supporting stronger national Red List processes

A key focus of the training is the role of national and regional Red List processes in strengthening biodiversity knowledge and conservation planning. National Red Lists help countries assess species status in their own contexts, identify priorities and build a stronger evidence base for decision-making and reporting.

“National Red Lists are a vital bridge between global standards and national conservation action,” said Sophie Ledger of the Zoological Society of London, who presented national Red List case studies during the training. “They help countries build ownership of the assessment process, identify priorities more clearly, and generate data that can directly support policy, planning and conservation action on the ground.”

Across the Western Balkans, these processes are at different stages with different Red Books and assessments published over the last 10 to 15 years. This diversity of experience is one of the strengths of the regional gathering. It allows participants to compare methodologies, reflect on institutional approaches, and identify where more consistent use of Red List tools could support national conservation priorities while also improving the regional evidence base.

Contributing to the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans

The training is being organised by IUCN’s Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, within the framework of the Greening the Western Balkans project, funded by the International Partnerships Austria, and contributes to the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. It brings together participants nominated by members of the Biodiversity Task Force of the Western Balkans, with the aim of strengthening both national capacities and regional cooperation on species assessment and reporting.

“This training is a practical contribution to the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, particularly in strengthening the knowledge base needed for biodiversity conservation and reporting,” said Milica Mišković, Conservation Programme Officer at IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. “By supporting institutions across the region to work more closely with Red List methodologies and learn from one another, we are also helping build a stronger foundation for future cooperation on biodiversity policy and action.”

The knowledge and exchanges generated through the training are expected to support follow-up national Red List processes and strengthen regional cooperation on species assessments, biodiversity monitoring and reporting across the Western Balkans. The training also includes a field visit to the Special Nature Reserve Uvac.

For more information on the Nature and Biodiversity Pillar of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans: 

• Infographic: What is Pillar 5 of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans?
• Video: What is the Nature and Biodiversity Pillar of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans?