Global extinction risk assessment of soil-dependent species: recent progress and recommendations
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Soil biodiversity is crucial to the maintenance of multiple critical ecosystem functions and services. However, remarkably little is known about the conservation status of most soil-dependent species. To better understand the current situation, we determined the number of soil-dependent species listed in the various categories of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Firstly, a definition of soil-dependent species was developed for IUCN Red List purposes, and this definition facilitated the identification of 8,653 currently listed soil-dependent species. These species included 503 invertebrate and fungal species assessed during the current study; these species were chosen as they were based on priorities for the Red List Strategic Plan, and IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Specialist Group interests. We discuss progress and constraints on the IUCN Red List assessment of soil-dependent species worldwide. Our recommendations for the IUCN SSC to improve the IUCN Red List as a source of information on conservation of soil-dependent species are: (1) scaling up of SSC assessment processes for soil-dependent invertebrates and fungi, including establishment of a Soil Biota Working Group, in line with the IUCN Red List Strategic Plan; (2) building closer connections with other organizations and agencies researching and monitoring soil biodiversity; and (3) broader engagement with and education of governments, landholders and the public as to the fundamental importance of the conservation of global soil biodiversity.
Source: Oryx
Authors: Neil Ashley Cox, James Westrip, Philip Bowles, Craig Hilton-Taylor, Axel Hochkirch, Richard K. B. Jenkins, Gregory M. Mueller, Paulo A. V. Borges, Maria J. I. Briones, Cátia Canteiro, V. Bala Chaudhary, Monica A. Farfan, Rodrigo Feitosa, Carlos A. Guerra, Konstantin B. Gongalsky, Sergio Henriques, John S. LaPolla, Camila Leandro, Zoë Lindo, Bethan Manley, Catherine Numa, Sebahat K. Ozman-Sullivan, J. Jacob Parnell, Anton Potapov, Alberto Martín Sánchez, Marla Schwarzfeld, Patricia A. Silva-Flores, Gregory T. Sullivan, Maria Tsiafouli, Fernando Z. Vaz-de-Mello, Leena Vilonen, Andrey Zaitsev
Institutions: Conservation International, International Union for Conservation of Nature (United Kingdom), International Union for Conservation of Nature (Guinea-Bissau), IUCN Species Survival Commission, Musée national d'histoire naturelle Luxembourg, Universität Trier, Chicago Botanic Garden, Universidade dos Açores, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Universidade de Vigo, Indianapolis Zoo, Dartmouth College, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Universidade Federal do Paraná, University of Coimbra, Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Butler University, Towson University, Université de Montpellier, Western University, Society for the Protection of Underground Networks, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Senckenberg Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz, Technische Universität Dresden, Catholic University of the Maule, The University of Queensland, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Colorado State University
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,550
Award: G2301883453
OpenAlex ID: W7154183756