Lichen-rich habitats all over the world are being continuosly destroyed and many species have become rarer or even extinct, leading to further loss of biological diversity. An invaluable tool for promoting lichen conservation as well as stimulating research are Red Lists. Information from replies to a worldwide questionnaire is summarized and discussed. The need for lichen Red Lists, both regional (e.g. countries or continents) and world-wide, is emphasised. The present number of Red Lists covering different regions is presented. The need for cooperation between lichenologists in different countries for compilation of lists covering continents and a global Red List is encouraged. The criteria for selecting species for Red Lists are discussed and different problems are emphasised.