Near Threatened (NT) is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status. The IUCN notes the importance of re-evaluating Near Threatened taxa at appropriate intervals.
The rationale used for Near Threatened taxa usually includes the criteria of Vulnerable which are plausible or nearly met, such as reduction in numbers or range. Near Threatened species evaluated from 2001 onwards may also be ones which are dependent on conservation efforts to prevent their becoming threatened, whereas prior to this Conservation Dependent species were given a separate category.
Additionally the 402 Conservation Dependent taxa may also be considered Near Threatened.
Prior to 2001 the IUCN used the version 2.3 Categories and Criteria, which included a separate category for Conservation Dependent species (LR/cd). With this category system Near Threatened and Conservation Dependent were both subcategories of the category "Lower Risk". Taxa which were last evaluated prior to 2001 may retain their LR/cd or LR/nt status, although had the category been assigned with the same information today the species would be designated simply "Near Threatened (NT)" in either case.
Near Threatened (NT) is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status. The IUCN notes the importance of re-evaluating Near Threatened taxa at appropriate intervals.
The rationale used for Near Threatened taxa usually includes the criteria of Vulnerable which are plausible or nearly met, such as reduction in numbers or range. Near Threatened species evaluated from 2001 onwards may also be ones which are dependent on conservation efforts to prevent their becoming threatened, whereas prior to this Conservation Dependent species were given a separate category.
Additionally the 402 Conservation Dependent taxa may also be considered Near Threatened.
Prior to 2001 the IUCN used the version 2.3 Categories and Criteria, which included a separate category for Conservation Dependent species (LR/cd). With this category system Near Threatened and Conservation Dependent were both subcategories of the category "Lower Risk". Taxa which were last evaluated prior to 2001 may retain their LR/cd or LR/nt status, although had the category been assigned with the same information today the species would be designated simply "Near Threatened (NT)" in either case.