Green Status Assessments
Introduction
The IUCN Green Status of Species is a new global standard for measuring species recovery. While the IUCN Red List assesses extinction risk, the Green Status goes a step further by evaluating how close a species is to full recovery across its natural range. For great apes, it provides the first standardized framework for measuring not only where populations persist, but also how much conservation has contributed to their recovery and what is needed to secure their future.
The Institute for Ape Conservation Science (Ape Institute) is leading the completion of Green Status assessments for all great ape species in close collaboration with the IUCN Species Survival Commission and species experts from across Africa and Asia. Each assessment brings together the best available scientific evidence and the knowledge of experts from the species' range countries to evaluate population status, historical distribution, major threats, and the outcomes of past and ongoing conservation efforts. The assessments also examine how species would likely fare if conservation efforts continue, are strengthened, or are reduced, providing a science-based framework for understanding conservation impact and future recovery potential.
Goals
The Green Status assessments aim to move conservation beyond measuring extinction risk by providing a transparent and standardized way to evaluate recovery and conservation impact. By identifying where conservation has succeeded, where populations remain vulnerable, and which actions have made the greatest difference, the assessments help governments, conservation organizations, local communities, and funders make more informed conservation decisions and prioritize investments where they will have the greatest impact.
Ultimately, the Green Status initiative seeks to answer one of the most important questions in conservation: What does it take to recover great ape populations? By examining the contribution of different conservation strategies alongside ecological, social, governance, and economic contexts, the assessments will improve our understanding of the conditions that enable recovery. This evidence will help guide future conservation planning, strengthen accountability, and ensure that long-term investments translate into measurable recovery for great apes across their range.
New Green Status of Species Assessments
We have recently completed the Green Status assessment for eastern gorillas (Gorilla beringei) (mountain gorillas and Grauer’s gorillas). Read more about these newly published assessments by clicking the links below:
Learn more about the first IUCN Green Status assessment for the eastern gorilla in our press release.
Contribute to this Project
If you are interested in finding out more about the IUCN Green Status of Great Ape Species assessments for great apes, or if you would like to contribute to this work, please contact Jessi Junker at jjunker@rewild.org.
