With the development of civilization, mankind began to attack nature so actively that many species of plants and animals were endangered. Therefore, in the middle of the last century, at an international conference on nature conservation, it was decided to call on countries to make special lists and decorate them with red covers as a signal of alarm.
What is the Red Book?
Roughly in the same years, the Red Book of Russia appeared. The plants and animals listed in its first edition were in need of emergency conservation action and special work to conserve their habitats at the federal level. In the 90s of the last century, similar books of regions and territories of Russia began to be created. Thus, each region got the opportunity to monitor the conservation of natural diversity in its territory.
Now in the world more than 20 thousand species of animals, birds and plants are on the verge of extinction. More than 25% of existing mammals, about 50% of amphibians, more than 13% of birds and more than 33% of corals are mentioned in the international Red Book.
The Red Book of Russia is publishedat least once every 10 years. Between editions, the State Committee for Ecology is working to correct the lists, which then become an integral part of the next edition.
This is not just a list
The Red Book of Russia is not just an illustrated edition that describes rare and endangered species. It can be called a program of activities for the restoration of populations, because it brings together many years of experience and specific facts accumulated by zoologists, game managers and simply connoisseurs of nature.
Rich scientific information, a description of the risks and many tips for the conservation of nature - all this is the Red Book of Russia. Photos and illustrations help to better understand the nature of the native land and, if possible, help to save it. This is the main mission of the publication - to save endangered species of plants and animals and restore rare ones. History shows that this is possible when government agencies, interested public organizations, various specialists, as well as amateur enthusiasts unite their efforts.
Who compiles and maintains this publication?
The Red Book of Russia is the fruit of the work of many organizations, various commissions, laboratories and scientists. Indeed, in order to authoritatively state that a plant or animal is on the verge of extinction, a lot of research work needs to be done. At the very beginning, more than 100 institutions and organizations were involved in compiling it, including the Russian Academy of Sciences, government agencies, scientists from reserves and protected areas and universities.
Now there is a paper and electronic Red Book of Russia. Animals and plants from risk groups are presented here in more detail - the electronic version has a lot of additional information and thematic contextual links that can be used to go to databases of reserves and other interesting sites.
Plants and animals are candidates for book lists
The Red Book of Russia includes 6 sections according to the degree of threat of extinction of the species:
0 - probably disappeared;
1 - endangered;
2 - declining in numbers;
3 - rare;
4 - undefined status;
5 - recoverable and recoverable.
For ease of perception, it is reasonable to place information by sections in tabular form
Red Book of Russia - categories of objects
| Category | Category value | |
| 0 | Probably Disappeared | Species that have not been seen by researchers in the last 50-100 years. |
| 1 | Endangered | Species that have declined to nearly critical levels from which they simply may not recover unless urgent action is taken. |
| 2 | Dwindling in numbers | Those species that in recent years have had a strong tendency to decrease in population and very soon may become endangered. |
| 3 | Rare |
Species with low numbers that are found in a limited area or occur in large areas, but in very small groups. |
| 4 | Uncertain status | These species either do not fit the criteria of the other categories, or there is insufficient scientific evidence for them. However, they still need special protection measures. |
| 5 | Recoverable and recoverable | Species that, due to the measures taken or for natural reasons, have reached a level in terms of abundance and distribution area where they no longer require urgent measures to preserve and restore the population. |
Risk factors for the living world
What should be done so that the entire flora and fauna of Russia is not included in the lists under the red cover?
International environmental organizations see a way out in reducing the risks of global warming, reducing CO2 emissions, preventing oil spill disasters, minimizing emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere by industrial enterprises and megacities, combating poaching and misuse of protected areas. Then in a few decades it will be possible to turn all the Red Books into museum exhibits.
In the meantime, in order to replenish at least part of the population of rare species, according to environmentalists, it will take almost half a billion dollars, and the lists of endangered plants and animals are still growing.
