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IUCN Red List of Ecosystems: The Global Standard for Assessing Risks to Ecosystems

Get an introduction to the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems and learn how it helps to sustain biodiversity around the world with an online course from Deakin University.

Duration

2 weeks

Weekly study

5 hours

100% online

How it works

Unlimited subscription

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Accreditation

More info

Established

1974

Location

Melbourne, Australia

World ranking

Source: QS World University Rankings 2021

Learn how the Red List of Ecosystems is helping to sustain global biodiversity

Nature is under threat around the world. Understanding where ecosystems are at greatest risk allows us to act to sustain species and ecosystems.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Ecosystems is a rigorous standardised assessment method that supports decision making while generating strategies for policy and management practice.

The Red List of Ecosystems is the global standard for ecosystem risk assessment, used by governments, NGOs, scientists and practitioners to sustain biodiversity worldwide.

Week 1
Introducing the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems
- Introduction and overview
  Welcome to our introductory course on the Red List of Ecosystems.
- The IUCN Red Lists
  Meet the IUCN, examine the reasoning behind creating the Red Lists and understand where they fit in the policy landscape.
- Scientific foundations and purpose
  Understand the scientific foundations for Red Listing ecosystems. What is an ecosystem? How can we understand its risk of collapse? Uncover the scope and scale of the Red List of Ecosystem approach.
- Overview of an ecosystem assessment
  Performing an ecosystem risk assessment requires careful planning and considered collection of resources
- Wrapping up the week
  Reflect on what you’ve learned about the Red List of Ecosystems so far and what to look forward to next week.
Week 2
Applying the Red List of Ecosystems
- Welcome back
  Welcome to this second week, a more detailed look at criteria, process and outcomes.
- Criteria and categories
  Investigate the process and elements of assessments: the five criteria and assigning a risk category.
- Case study: the Victorian Mountain Ash Forest, Australia
  Learn about the Mountain Ash forest, analyse why it is critically endangered, and meet the experts who undertook the Red List assessment.
- Case study: Tidal flats of the Yellow Sea, East Asia
  Tidal mudflats are critical to the well-being of people and wildlife, especially shorebirds; innovative use of data shows how they are threatened by reclamation and land-use change.
- Data and tools
  There are a wide range of resources, tools and data sources to support the assessment process – we will introduce you to some key ones, and encourage you to seek out others.
- Conclusions and where next
  Reflect on what you have learned, check your understanding and how to keep in touch.