Conservation Status
Conservation status is a system used to evaluate how at risk a species is of extinction. The IUCN Red List is the world’s most comprehensive classification system, assessing species based on population trends, habitat loss, and threats. From ‘Least Concern’ to ‘Extinct,’ these categories help scientists and conservationists prioritize efforts to protect biodiversity. Below are the different conservation categories, each indicating a species’ risk level.
- Least Concern (LC) – Species that are widespread and abundant.
- Near Threatened (NT) – Species close to qualifying for a threatened category.
- Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of extinction in the wild.
- Endangered (EN) – Very high risk of extinction in the wild.
- Critically Endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction.
- Extinct in the Wild (EW) – Only survives in captivity or as a naturalized population.
- Extinct (EX) – No reasonable doubt that the species is gone forever.
- Data Deficient (DD) – Not enough data to assess risk.
- Not Evaluated (NE) – Species not yet assessed by the IUCN.