Near-threatened species

A near-threatened species is a species which has been categorized as "Near Threatened" (NT) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as that may be vulnerable to endangerment in the near future, but it does not currently qualify for the threatened status.^[1]^[2]

The IUCN notes the importance of reevaluating 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. Those designated since 2001 that depend on conservation efforts to not become threatened are no longer separately considered conservation-dependent species.

IUCN Categories and Criteria version 2.3

Diagram of Lower Risk / near threatened in the older IUCN version 2.3, beside the former Lower Risk / conservation dependent subcategory.

Before 2001, the IUCN used the version 2.3 Categories and Criteria to assign conservation status, which included a separate category for conservation-dependent species ("Conservation Dependent", LR/cd). With this category system, Near Threatened and Conservation Dependent were both subcategories of the category "Lower Risk". Taxa which were last evaluated before 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.

Gallery

The near-threatened Eurasian otter
The maned wolf is near-threatened largely as the result of habitat loss.
The gray bat was moved from "endangered" to "near-threatened" due to successful conservation efforts. It has now been moved to vulnerable.^[3]
Plains zebras (or Equus quagga) are listed as 'near threatened' by the IUCN.
The ball python, formerly a common species, had become near-threatened as a result of illegal trade and poaching.