Endangered species (IUCN status)

In 2012, the IUCN Red List featured 3,079 animal and 2,655 plant species as endangered worldwide.

A species must adhere to certain criteria in order to be placed in any of the afore-mentioned conservation status categories, according to the assessment.

According to the 3.1 version of the IUCN conservation status system from 2001, a species is listed as endangered when it meets any of the following criteria from A to E.[3] A) Reduction in population size based on any of the following: 1.

An observed, estimated, inferred, projected or suspected population size reduction of ≥ 50% over any 10 year or three-generation period, whichever is longer (up to a maximum of 100 years in the future), where the time period must include both the past and the future, and where the reduction or its causes may not have ceased OR may not be understood OR may not be reversible, based on (and specifying) any of (a) to (e) under A1.

B) Geographic range in the form of either B1 (extent of occurrence) OR B2 (area of occupancy) OR both: 1.