How does the IUCN Classifications scheme work?
The IUCN Red List uses the following classifications (must be capitalised) to describe the threat status of a species: Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable – these three are the categories people talk about when they say a species is ‘threatened’ (not capitalised). The other three classifications are: Near Threatened, Least Concern and Data Deficient. These classifications follow strict IUCN Red List guidelines – rate of population decline, numbers in the wild, size of area that they are present in, threats that they face.
