A campaign to support
The IUCN Red List

Dear Carnivorous Plant Enthusiasts,

We all know that carnivorous plants are incredibly special. In fact, they are so unique that cultivating and conserving carnivorous plants has become a life-long passion for many people, including the members of carnivorous plant societies around the world.

But, as you know, carnivorous plants are in danger. Their diverse beauty and unique behaviours make them vulnerable to over-collection for the horticultural trade. Poaching and habitat fragmentation and destruction, driven largely by agriculture, logging, and mining operations, represent major threats to many species. We urgently need to gain a better understanding of their global status, and we need your help!

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, in collaboration with the IUCN SSC Carnivorous Plant Specialist Group (CPSG), just launched an online campaign to help assess all carnivorous plant species. 80% of the roughly 750 carnivorous plant species have not yet been assessed for The IUCN Red List. The IUCN Red List is the world’s most comprehensive and objective data source on the global status of species worldwide. Without more information about the state of the world’s carnivorous plants, it is impossible to guide conservation actions that have real impact on the ground.

Completing the assessment of all carnivorous plants is an ambitious but critical undertaking. Achieving this goal will cost around USD 125,000, and involve a series of expert workshops and field visits. Our first goal is to raise at least USD 25,000 by December 31^st, 2015 to kickstart the first assessment workshop in August 2016 (in advance of the International Carnivorous Plant Society biannual conference). We hope to raise the remaining funds (USD 100,000) in 2016 with your help. See the campaign here.

Sincerely,

Robert (Rob) Cantley, IUCN SSC CPSG Chair
Jane Smart, Director, Global Species Programme, IUCN