The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Index. Chapter 1 Status and Trends of Global Biodiversity. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the changing status of the world's biological diversity.
The first sections below provide general information on the nature and scope of biological diversity, and broad trends at genetic and species level. Subsequent sections outline the status of the general ecosystem types that are the subject of thematic programmes established by the Convention, and brief remarks are given on other important habitat types.