Red Lists and protection

Red Lists are inventories of biological species that are threatened or at risk of extinction, or have already gone extinct. The guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are used in preparing Red Lists.

The Icelandic Institute for Natural History compiles Red Lists for the biota of Iceland. The IINH Red List for Birds (2018) assesses the status of 91 bird species. They are classified into eight risk categories. Of these species, 41 are on the Red List. The IINH Red List for Mammals (2018) assesses the status of 18 mammal species. They are classified into six risk categories. Of these species, five are on the Red List.

Act no. 64/1994 on the protection, conservation and hunting of birds and wild mammals extends protection to all birds and land mammals, with a few exceptions, e.g., feral mink and rats.