LC
Conservation Status

Least Concern
Species

Widespread and abundant species.
806 Species
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Overview

Understanding This Status

Least Concern (LC) is an IUCN Red List category for species that have been evaluated and found not to meet the criteria for any threatened category (Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable) or Near Threatened. These species are currently considered at low risk of extinction in the wild.

Least Concern applies to wild taxa that have been formally assessed against the IUCN Red List criteria and determined to be relatively secure at present. Species in this category are typically widespread, abundant, or have stable/increasing populations, and they do not show the levels of rapid decline, restricted range, or severe fragmentation that would trigger a higher-risk category. Importantly, LC is a result of an evaluation-not a statement that a species faces no threats.

This status can apply to many kinds of organisms (animals, plants, fungi, etc.) across diverse habitats, including species that are common globally or those that are very common across much of their range. A species may still be locally declining or threatened in parts of its distribution yet remain Least Concern overall if it is secure at the global scale used by the IUCN Red List assessment.

Least Concern matters because it helps prioritize conservation resources and monitoring where extinction risk is higher, while still providing a benchmark for tracking change over time. LC species can become threatened if pressures increase (e.g., habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, disease, or climate change), so periodic reassessment and ongoing population/habitat monitoring are important to detect emerging risks early.

Common Misconceptions

IUCN Standards

Assessment Criteria

Least Concern (LC) is assigned to a species that has been evaluated against the IUCN Red List criteria and found not to be close to qualifying for a threatened category (Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered). In practice, LC species are typically widespread and/or abundant, have stable or only slowly declining populations, and do not face immediate threats severe enough to drive a high risk of extinction in the near term.

How species are assessed: To assign Least Concern, assessors compile the best available evidence on distribution (EOO/AOO), population size and trends, habitat and threats, and (when available) quantitative extinction-risk analyses. The species is evaluated against Criteria A-E. If it does not meet (and is not close to meeting) the thresholds for Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered-and there is sufficient information to make that determination-it is listed as Least Concern. If information is too limited to evaluate extinction risk reliably, the appropriate category is typically Data Deficient rather than LC.

~85,000-95,000 species globally listed as Least Concern (LC) Species Globally
~50-60% of IUCN-assessed species Of Assessed Species
↑ Increasing

The absolute number of Least Concern listings tends to increase over time mainly because the IUCN Red List is steadily assessing more species (especially in plants, invertebrates, and fishes), and many newly assessed widespread/abundant taxa fall into LC. The *proportion* of assessed species that are LC is generally more stable: some LC species are uplisted (e.g., to Near Threatened or threatened categories) as new threats, habitat loss, climate impacts, disease, or improved population data reveal declines, while others remain LC due to broad ranges, large populations, or successful management.

Geographic Patterns: LC species are most common where species have large geographic ranges and/or high abundance. In terms of *counts*, many LC species occur in biodiversity-rich tropical regions (e.g., Amazon Basin, Congo Basin, Southeast Asia) simply because overall species richness is highest there. In terms of *proportion*, LC is often well represented in temperate regions and large, continuous habitats where many species are widespread generalists and monitoring is comparatively strong. In the marine realm, many broadly distributed pelagic and coastal species are LC, especially where ranges span multiple ocean basins; however, heavily exploited shelves/reefs can show fewer LC assessments as more species are Near Threatened or threatened.

Implications

What This Means

For the Species

  • The species is currently considered at low risk of extinction in the near term at a global scale.
  • Populations are generally widespread and/or abundant, and any declines are not rapid enough to meet threatened-category thresholds.
  • The species typically has a higher buffer against normal environmental fluctuations and localized pressures than threatened species.
  • Localized declines can still occur despite a global LC listing; some subpopulations may be at risk due to regional threats (habitat loss, hunting, disease, invasive species).
  • Ongoing monitoring is still important because emerging threats or land-use change can shift an LC species into a higher-risk category over time.

Conservation Priority

Generally a lower priority for emergency, species-specific recovery actions compared with threatened categories. Conservationists often focus on maintaining stable habitat and ecosystem function, using LC species for baseline monitoring and early-warning indicators, and targeting preventative management in regions or subpopulations showing decline or facing rising threats.

Legal Protections

  • CITES: Usually not listed in CITES Appendices for trade controls; however, some LC species may still be listed (often Appendix II) if international trade could become a concern or to aid regulation/identification.
  • U.S. ESA (Endangered Species Act): Generally not listed as Endangered/Threatened, so ESA-specific protections typically do not apply; some populations or "distinct population segments" could be listed even if the species is LC globally.
  • Regional/national wildlife laws: Protections may still apply via hunting regulations, protected-area rules, animal welfare/anti-poaching statutes, and habitat protections (e.g., national parks, wildlife reserves, forestry and land-use permitting).
  • International/regional agreements: Depending on the taxon and range, LC species may still fall under instruments like the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the EU Birds Directive/Habitats Directive, Ramsar (wetlands), or fisheries management agreements-especially where management is based on ecological role or migratory behavior rather than IUCN threat level.
  • Trade and biosecurity regulations: Even when LC, species may be regulated under invasive-species laws, quarantine rules, or disease-control measures affecting movement, translocation, or trade.

Funding Implications

Typically less competitive for scarce, high-profile conservation funds aimed at preventing imminent extinction; funding is more likely to come through broader programs (habitat protection, protected areas, landscape connectivity, sustainable resource use, monitoring and research). LC status can reduce urgency in donor and government allocations, but proposals may still succeed when they emphasize preventative action, ecosystem services, keystone/umbrella roles, data-deficiency at local scales, or cost-effective measures that avert future declines.

Stories of Change

Status Transitions

Success Stories

Humpback whale

vulnerable least_concern

After the end of commercial whaling and decades of protections, several major humpback populations rebounded strongly, leading to a global downlisting to least_concern (while noting some regional populations remained at risk).

2008

Southern right whale

endangered least_concern

Long-term recovery following whaling bans and protective management in key breeding/calving areas led to a global reassessment to least_concern, reflecting broad population growth from very low historical numbers.

2008

Tragic Losses

Polar bear

Projected and observed declines tied primarily to Arctic sea-ice loss (reducing hunting opportunities and affecting reproduction/survival) drove an uplisting from Lower Risk/conservation dependent (LR/cd) to Vulnerable.

2006

Koala

Widespread habitat loss and fragmentation, compounded by drought/heat extremes, bushfires, disease pressures in some areas, and other stressors contributed to an uplisting from least_concern to vulnerable.

2014
How You Can Help

Take Action

Conservation Strategies

  • Maintain and protect common habitats at landscape scale (e.g., keep intact forests/grasslands/wetlands; prevent fragmentation via wildlife corridors and smart zoning) to prevent LC species from sliding into Near Threatened.
  • Monitor populations and trends with standardized surveys and long-term datasets (e.g., breeding bird surveys, camera-trap grids, fish stock assessments) to detect early declines before they become crises.
  • Prevent emerging threats through proactive management: rapid response to new diseases, invasive species control, and biosecurity at ports/trailheads/aquaculture facilities.
  • Sustainably manage harvest and bycatch even when populations are healthy (science-based quotas, size limits, seasonal closures, selective gear, bycatch reduction devices) to avoid overexploitation.
  • Reduce chronic pressures that affect widespread species: pesticide and nutrient runoff reduction, light/noise pollution mitigation, roadkill reduction measures, and improved fire regime management where relevant.
  • Maintain genetic diversity and connectivity by protecting multiple populations across the range and safeguarding migratory routes; avoid isolating subpopulations with barriers.
  • Integrate LC species into multi-species ecosystem conservation (protect keystone habitats, maintain prey/base resources, restore degraded areas) rather than waiting for rarity-driven interventions.
  • Use LC species as indicators/umbrella elements in land-use planning (e.g., protect riparian buffers, hedgerows, native plant cover) that also benefits more vulnerable species.
  • Strengthen legal and policy frameworks that prevent decline: enforce environmental impact assessments, regulate development in critical habitats, and support protected-area effectiveness.
  • Climate resilience planning: conserve climate refugia, enable range shifts via connected habitats, and reduce non-climate stressors to improve adaptive capacity.

How You Can Help

  • Support habitat protection where you live: vote for local measures that fund parks/open space, oppose unnecessary habitat-clearing projects, and advocate for wildlife corridors in municipal plans.
  • Make your property LC-friendly: plant native species, keep some natural structure (leaf litter, brush, dead wood where safe), reduce lawn area, and avoid routine pesticide/herbicide use.
  • Prevent invasives: clean boots/boats/gear after outdoor recreation, don't release pets or aquarium plants, and use certified weed-free seed/mulch/firewood.
  • Reduce pollution at the source: limit fertilizer use, properly dispose of chemicals/medications, pick up pet waste, and reduce single-use plastics that enter waterways.
  • Lower collision and roadkill risk: drive slower in wildlife-crossing areas, support wildlife crossing infrastructure, use bird-safe window treatments, and keep outdoor lights shielded and minimized at night.
  • Be a responsible consumer of wild resources: choose sustainably certified seafood/wood (e.g., MSC/ASC/FSC where available), follow local hunting/fishing regulations, and report illegal harvest/trade.
  • Participate in monitoring: join citizen-science programs (e.g., eBird/iNaturalist/local bioblitzes), submit observations consistently, and volunteer for local surveys to catch early warning signs.
  • Support proactive conservation funding: donate to local land trusts and conservation NGOs that protect common habitats, and contribute to endowments for long-term management.
  • Help reduce climate pressure: cut personal emissions (efficient home/transport choices) and support policies and projects that reduce greenhouse gases-this helps keep LC species from becoming threatened.
  • Engage your community: organize cleanups, advocate for native plantings in schools/parks, and encourage HOA/city policies that allow habitat-friendly yards and reduced pesticide use.

Least Concern is an animal classification established by the International Union for the Conservation. Species classified as “least concern” are not a focus of conservationists because they don’t appear to be facing any imminent threats. The IUCN will not add species to the Least Concern list unless scientists have evaluated them. Additionally, LC animals are not red-listed, but they still have a category.

Currently, 14,033 species of animals are on the Least Concern list.

All Least Concern Species

806 species documented in our encyclopedia

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