Securing Biodiversity in Breckland - European Commission

Table 8. Descriptions of Red Data Book species conservation designations based on IUCN criteria (Sourcehttp://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-3425)DesignationExtinctExtinct in the wildCritically EndangeredEndangeredVulnerableRareData DeficientNear ThreatenedLeast ConcernDescriptionTaxa which are no longer known to exist in the wild after repeated searches of theirlocalities and other known likely places.Taxon only known to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalised population(or populations) well outside the past range.Taxon is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediatefuture, as defined by any of the IUCN criteria A to E.Best available evidence indicates that taxon meets any of the IUCN criteria A to Efor Endangered and it is therefore considered to be facing a very high risk ofextinction in the wild.Best available evidence indicates that taxon meets any of the IUCN criteria A to Efor Vulnerable and it is therefore considered to be facing a high risk of extinction inthe wild.Taxa with small populations that are not at present Endangered or Vulnerable, butare at risk. In GB, this is interpreted as species which exist in fifteen or fewer 10kmsquares. This category is not in the 1994 or 2001 criteria, but still applicable to liststhat have not been reviewed since 1994.Inadequate information is available to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of therisk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status. Listing of taxa inthis category indicates that more information is required and acknowledges thepossibility that future research will show that a threatened category is appropriate.A taxon is Near Threatened when it has been evaluated against the criteria but doesnot qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable now (or Lower riskconservationdependant in the pre 1994 criteria), but is close to qualifying for or islikely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future. In GB, this categoryincludes species which occur in 15 or fewer hectads but do not qualify as CriticallyEndangered, Endangered or Vulnerable.A taxon is Least Concern when it has been evaluated against the criteria and doesnot qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened (orLower Risk - conservation dependant, or Nationally Scarce in Britain). Widespreadand abundant taxa are included in this category.59