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Which IUCN list should I choose?

IUCN Red Lists are updated annually - so categories for specfic plants will differ from year-to-year because of the annual changes that are made to the underlying data. Many factors can cause a change in status,

Broadly speaking, the 1997 Red List was based on a looser range of criteria.

In 2004, the Red List was adapted so that there were stricter criteria for listing plants. This meant that many species were removed from the list, for example where data was not sufficient to meet the new standards, so the 2006 list will actually show fewer plants having a threatened status.

If you want more comprehensive results, choose the 1997 list.

For plants that have been more strictly and thoroughly tested for conservation status use the 2006 criteria.

IUCN's Red List FAQ

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