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Status assessments presented in the IUCN Red List are open to challenge. Petitions may be made against particular listings. However, such petitions may only be made on the basis of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria and in reference to any supporting documentation accompanying the listing. It is not possible to change listings for political, emotional, economic, or other reasons not based on the Red List Categories and Criteria.

The petitions process begins with discussions between the Red List Authority responsible for the assessment and the petitioners. Every effort should be made to reach agreement within the standard red-listing process. Only if the two groups cannot come to any agreement will the matter be referred to the IUCN SSC Standards and Petitions Working Group (SPWG) for an appeal to be heard.

Please follow the link for the full

Procedure for Handling Petitions against Current Listings on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species( 52 KB).

Notifications of decisions by the SPWG on petitions against listings in the IUCN Red List are available below:

• Ruling of the IUCN Red List Standards and Petitions Working Group on Petition against the 1996 listing of Olive Ridley Turtle, 10 September 2007 ( 43 KB)
• New Olive Ridley Assessment for the 2008 Red List (729 KB)

• Ruling of the IUCN Red List Standards and Petitions Working Group on Petition against the 1998 Listing of Greenheart, 26 February 2007 ( 36 KB)
• Ruling of the IUCN Red List Standards and Petitions Subcommittee on Petitions against the 1996 Listings of Four Marine Turtle Species, 18 October 2001 (52 KB).

If you encounter problems accessing the documents above, or any others to which they link, please contact the Red List Programme Office redlist@ssc-uk.org to request a hard copy.