Guidelines

Mapping Standards and Data Quality for IUCN Red List Spatial Data

The main guidance document explaining the required standards for distribution maps being published on The IUCN Red List.

GIS tools and recommended base data

IUCN Red List Toolbox for ArcMap (589 MB)                                     

The ArcGIS IUCN Red List Species Mapping Toolbox (2021_05 version).

(Last updated: May 2021)

IUCN Red List Toolbox Instructions (1.7 MB)

Guidance on how to use the IUCN Red List Toolbox (2021_05 version). PDF document.

EOO Calculator (50 KB)

Creates a minimum convex polygon to calculate extent of occurrence (EOO). (Toolbox version 1.5)  For ArcMap 10.3 and above.

(Last updated: May 2021)

EOO Calculator Instructions      (927 KB)

Guidance on how to use the EOO Calculator tool (version 1.5). PDF document.

Mapbatcher Toolbox for ArcMap    (17 MB)                                       

The Mapbatcher is used to create multiple static distribution maps using Red List spatial data. This zip file contains the Mapbatcher toolbox  (2020 version), template ArcMap documents (ArcMap 10.7 and 10.5) and the toolbox instructions as a pdf.

(Last updated: August 2020)

Mapbatcher Toolbox Instructions  (1.1 MB)

Guidance on how to use the Mapbatcher_2020 toolbox and associated ArcMap documents. PDF document.

Basedata (533 MB)

A geodatabase containing the shapefiles and rasters listed below, excluding the empty species shapefiles and HydroBASINS. ArcMap 10.5 version.

(Last updated: August 2019)

Individual basedata shapefiles, rasters and geodatabases:

• Empty species shapefiles (last updated May 2021):

  • Polygon

  • Point

  • Point with optional attributes

• Geodatabase with empty feature classes for: polygon, point and point with optional attributes (last updated May 2021)

• Shapefiles for:

  • City points

  • Continental land masses and ocean islands

  • Countries GAUL 2013  (Note: the GADM country data, v4.1 2022, can be downloaded from https://gadm.org/data.html)

  • FAO areas

  • Lakes

  • Rivers

  • SIS Regions (level 1)

• Rasters for:

  • Elevation

  • Bathymetry (Note: this has been resampled to 1 arc-minute. The original 2020 15 arc-second rasters can be downloaded from GEBCO)

• Shapefiles of HydroBASINs including islands and some IUCN attributes (limited by shapefile maximum size) (last updated Aug 2023)

  • HydroBASINS (level 8)

  • HydroBASINS (level 10)

  • HydroBASINS (level 12)

Software and online mapping tools

Freshwater Mapping Application (FWMA)

A free, online mapping application developed to help users create distribution maps for inland water species, highlighting occurrence in HydroBASIN areas.

Freshwater Mapping Application User Manual

Guidance on how to use the FWMA. PDF document.

sRedList

A web-based platform to support assessors in calculating and informing key Red List assessment parameters including the production of range maps using occurrence data.

Esri website

The Esri website provides GIS Mapping Software (to purchase), a free trial for ArcGIS for Desktop, access to Esri Support, to Esri maps and data and to training.

Geospatial Modelling Environment (GME) website

GME provides a suite of spatial data analysis and modelling tools.

QGIS website

QGIS offers free and open source GIS desktop software.

XTools website

XTools have developed a comprehensive set of tools for vector spatial data.

GeoCAT

GeoCAT is a free online tool for mapping distributions using point data. Developed by RBG Kew and vizzuality.

The Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN)

CRAN provides access to up-to-date versions of code and documentation for R. Here you can get access to packages such as rCAT, red, redlistr, etc.

Tool Profiles

Brief overviews of some tools developed to aid mapping of spatial data and estimation of Red List metrics such as EOO and AOO, plus developer information, links to help files, support networks and associated research publications.

BioModelos

ConR

downscale

EOO Calculator

Freshwater Mapping Application (FWMA)

GeoCAT

rCAT

red

RedListR

Data providers

Blue Habitats website

A portal for information on the global distribution of marine habitats.

Free GIS Data website

Access to over 300 sites providing freely available geogaphic datasets.