|
The conservation status of a group of organisms (for instance, a species) indicates whether the group still exists and how likely the group is to become extinct in the near future.
Many factors are taken into account when assessing conservation status: not simply the number of individuals remaining, but the overall increase or decrease in the population over time, breeding success rates, and known threats.
Various systems of conservation status are in use at international, multi-country, national and local levels, as well as for consumer use such as sustainable seafood advisory lists and certification. The two international systems are the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) which provides the below RED LIST; and The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Conservation Status Groups and Abbreviations
Group:
Extinct
EX:
Extinct
There are no known living individuals.
EW:
Extinct in the Wild
Known only to survive in captivity,
or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.
Group:
Threatened
CR:
Critically Endangered
Highest risk of extinction in the wild.
EN:
Endangered
Higher risk of extinction in the wild.
VU:
Vunerable
High risk of extinction in the wild.
Group:
Lower Risk
NT:
Near Threatened
Likely to become endangered in the near future.
CD:
Conservation Dependant
Low risk; is conserved to prevent being near threatened,
certain events may lead it to being a higher risk level.
LC:
Least Concern
Very Low risk; does not qualify for a higher risk category
and not likely to be threatened in the near future.
Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category..
Group:
Other Categories
DD:
Data Deficient
Not enough data to make an assessment of its risk of extinction.
NE:
Not Evaluated
Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.
| 
