The IUCN knowledge products are tools for the conservation of biodiversity that unite global standards, mechanisms, processes, datasets, analytical methods and applications, web-portals and publications. IUCN knowledge products, which are underpinned by science, used to build capacity and support decision-making by policy-makers, include:
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the world's most comprehensive inventory on the global extinction risk status of animal, fungus and plant species. Far more than a list of species and their status, it is a powerful tool to inform and catalyze action for biodiversity conservation and policy change, critical to protecting the natural resources we need to survive. It provides information about range, population size, habitat and ecology, use and/or trade, threats, and conservation actions that will help inform necessary conservation decisions.
Key Biodiversity Areas
The Key Biodiversity Areas are sites of global importance to the planet’s overall health and the persistence of biodiversity. The KBA Program supports the identification, mapping, monitoring and conservation of KBAs to help safeguard the most critical sites for nature on our planet - from rainforests to reefs, mountains to marshes, deserts to grasslands and to the deepest parts of the oceans.
World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) - Protected Planet
Protected Planet is the online visual interface for the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). It is the most comprehensive global database on terrestrial and marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). The visual interface reconciles governmental, expert and general public opinions on protected areas.