Re: IUCN Red List and Green Status Assessment for Snow Leopard – Update and Opportunities to Contribute

[Rakhee Karumbaya]

Requesting you to please share on your groups. Thank you.

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Subject:	Re: IUCN Red List and Green Status Assessment for Snow Leopard – Update and Opportunities to Contribute
Date:	2025-06-11 13:41
From:	Justine Alexander <justine.s...@gmail.com>
To:	Bayarjargal Agvaantseren <bayar...@snowleopard.org>
Cc:	Sandro Lovari <sandro...@gmail.com>, Tabea Lanz <t.l...@kora.ch>, Rakhee Karumbaya <rak...@snowleopardnetwork.org>

On Wed, Jun 11, 2025 at 3:52 PM Justine Alexander <justine.s...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Bayara and Sandro,

The Cat Specialist Group and I have prepared the email below to inform the network about the upcoming IUCN Red List and Green Status assessments.

Many thanks,
Justine

Subject: IUCN Red List and Green Status Assessment for Snow Leopard – Update and Opportunities to Contribute

Dear Snow Leopard Network Members,

We are pleased to share that the IUCN Red List and Green Status assessment (GSS) process for the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) has been initiated, coordinated by the IUCN Cat Specialist Group. The last global Red List assessment was completed in 2016, and it is now time to update the species' status using the most current data and knowledge from across its range. Additionally, we will conduct the first GSS of this species to capture its recovery potential and the impact of conservation measures.

The Green Status of Species assessment complements the IUCN Red List by evaluating species recovery and conservation impact. While the Red List focuses on extinction risk, the Green Status runs in parallel to measure how far a species is from full ecological functionality and how successful conservation actions have been. It introduces new metrics—such as Conservation Legacy and Recovery Potential—to guide long-term planning, highlighting not just threat levels, but also progress toward recovery and future restoration opportunities.

This initiative is coordinated by Dr. Justine Shanti Alexander, based on her long-standing work on snow leopard conservation across the range, with support from Tabea Lanz, Red List Coordinator for the Cat Specialist Group, Elliot Carlton GSS expert. It is further supported by a small team of specialists contributing to specific elements of the assessment. A number of snow leopard ecologists and conservationists who completed the IUCN Red List/GSS assessment training have already begun coordinating information within range countries. They are working with additional experts to compile data, which will feed into the global assessments. Later, IUCN will engage reviewers to provide feedback on the draft assessments before final submission.

We recognize that the snow leopard conservation community is broad and talented. If you have not yet been contacted and would like to contribute, we welcome expressions of interest.

There are several ways to contribute:
1. Contributors (Country- or Global-Level Input)
Support the drafting or inputting of the Red List and/or Green Status assessments by contributing data and expert knowledge. Ideal for individuals who have at least 5 years of experience in snow leopard conservation or research and the following:

• Have a background in published work and/or field-based conservation
• Are based in, or have significant experience in, snow leopard range countries
• Ideally have experience with IUCN Red List or Green Status assessments (including completed open-access trainings)
• Can commit time over the coming months to actively contribute

2. Reviewers
Review the near-final drafts of the assessments and provide constructive feedback. Ideal for individuals who:

• Have relevant conservation, research, or technical expertise
• Have the time to provide a thorough and thoughtful review
• Knowledge of IUCN Red List and Green list assessment process and the corresponding IUCN guidelines

To express your interest, please send a brief cover letter (max 1 page) outlining your background and how you might contribute, along with your CV, to Justine Shanti Alexander (jalex...@wcs.org). Please indicate clearly whether you are interested in contributing, reviewing, or just staying updated on the process. Once we receive your expression of interest, we will be in touch to discuss how best you might be involved. Given the technical nature of this assessment, we ask that only individuals with directly relevant experience apply, as participation will be limited to those best positioned to contribute meaningfully.

We look forward to hearing from those interested in supporting this important effort.

Warm regards,
Justine Shanti Alexander & Tabea Lanz

 

 

 

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Justine Shanti Alexander

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Rakhee Karumbaya

Program Coordinator

Snow Leopard Network

 

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Rakhee Karumbaya

Program Coordinator

Snow Leopard Network