The reasons for Red Data Books

The late Sir Peter Scott, a former President of Fauna and Flora International, proposed the idea of Red Data Books as conservation tools more than 30 years ago. Today, the international Red Data Book programme appears to be effectively at an end, with priority being given to Action Plans and Conservation Assessment Management Plans for groups oftaxa. These, however, cannot entirely replace Red Data Books, and the author of this paper argues that Red Data Books have many vital roles to play in species conservation and makes a plea for their renascence.