Conservation Status

Near Threatened
Species

Close to qualifying for a threatened category.

73 Species

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Overview

Understanding This Status

Near Threatened (NT) is an IUCN Red List category for a species that does not currently meet the criteria for Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered, but is close to qualifying for a threatened category or is likely to qualify in the near future.

Near Threatened indicates that a species' risk of extinction is elevated compared with species of Least Concern, but not yet high enough to be classified as threatened under the IUCN criteria. Assessors use the same quantitative thresholds applied to Vulnerable, Endangered, and Critically Endangered, and assign NT when evidence shows the species narrowly misses those thresholds (for example, due to population size, rate of decline, range size, fragmentation, or other risk factors) or is expected to cross them soon if current pressures continue.

This status applies to any taxonomic group assessed by the IUCN Red List-plants, animals, and fungi-at global or regional scales. Species may be listed as Near Threatened because their populations are declining, their habitats are shrinking or degrading, exploitation is increasing, or emerging threats (such as invasive species, disease, pollution, or climate change) are likely to intensify. In some cases, a species may be stable today but remains close to threatened thresholds due to naturally small ranges or sensitivity to disturbance.

Near Threatened matters because it is an early warning signal: without timely conservation actions, many NT species can become threatened relatively quickly. The category helps guide monitoring priorities, land-use and resource management decisions, and proactive measures (e.g., habitat protection, reducing bycatch/harvest, controlling invasive species) before declines become harder and more costly to reverse. It also communicates uncertainty and trajectory-highlighting species that are not yet threatened but require attention to prevent escalation in extinction risk.

Common Misconceptions

Near Threatened means the species is already endangered or legally protected everywhere (NT is not the same as Vulnerable/Endangered, and legal protections vary by jurisdiction)?

Near Threatened means there is no immediate risk and no action is needed (NT often reflects real declines or mounting pressures and benefits from early intervention)?

Near Threatened is based on guesswork rather than criteria (NT is assigned using the IUCN framework and evidence, typically when a species narrowly misses threatened thresholds or is projected to meet them soon)?

IUCN Standards

Assessment Criteria

A species qualifies as Near Threatened (NT) when it does not currently meet the thresholds for a threatened category (Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered), but it is close to meeting them ("near qualifying") or is expected to meet them in the near future because of ongoing declines, emerging threats, or narrowly missed thresholds. NT often reflects species with moderately small or declining populations/ranges, or those experiencing pressures that could soon push them into Vulnerable.

A: Population Reduction

B: Geographic Range (Extent of Occurrence/Area of Occupancy)

C: Small Population Size and Decline

D: Very Small or Restricted Population

E: Quantitative Analysis

How species are assessed: Assessors compile the best available evidence on population trends, range size and fragmentation, number of mature individuals, subpopulation structure, threats, and (if available) quantitative extinction-risk models. The species is tested against the IUCN Red List criteria A-E for CR, EN, and VU. If it fails to meet any threatened threshold but is close to meeting one (or is projected to meet one soon under plausible, documented threats), it is listed as Near Threatened; otherwise it is typically Least Concern (or Data Deficient if information is insufficient).

~8,000-9,000 species globally listed as Near Threatened (NT) Species Globally

~5% of IUCN-assessed species Of Assessed Species

↑ Increasing

The NT total tends to rise over time due to (1) expanding Red List coverage and re-assessments that newly identify "almost threatened" species, (2) continued habitat loss, overexploitation, and climate-related pressures that push some species from Least Concern into NT, and (3) relatively fewer rapid recoveries that would move species out of NT compared with the rate at which new or worsening cases are added. Some NT species also transition into threatened categories, but the overall NT count still often increases as additional taxa are evaluated and as pressures intensify across many regions.

Geographic Patterns: NT species are disproportionately concentrated in high-biodiversity, high-pressure areas: tropical forest regions (e.g., Southeast Asia, parts of the Amazon and Andes, Central Africa, Madagascar), island systems with endemics (e.g., Indonesia/Philippines, Caribbean, Pacific islands), and coastal/marine biodiversity hubs (e.g., the Coral Triangle, Western Indian Ocean, parts of the Mediterranean). Freshwater NT species often cluster in heavily modified river basins and lake systems where pollution, water extraction, dams, and invasive species are intense.

Implications

What This Means

The species is not currently classified as threatened, but its population trends and/or habitat conditions suggest elevated risk of becoming Vulnerable in the near future.
Survival prospects are generally better than for threatened categories, yet declines, fragmentation, or emerging threats may already be occurring and could accelerate without intervention.
The status signals that the species is close to IUCN thresholds (e.g., rate of decline, range size, population size) and could be uplisted if negative trends continue.
Near Threatened often implies the species benefits from proactive management (habitat protection, threat mitigation) to prevent a slide into threatened categories.
Ongoing monitoring is important; data updates can rapidly change its status if new surveys reveal steeper declines or if threats intensify.

Typically treated as a preventive-action priority: conservationists often prioritize Near Threatened species for monitoring, targeted threat reduction, and habitat protection to avoid future uplisting. Compared with Endangered/Critically Endangered species, NT species may receive lower emergency priority, but they can rank high for cost-effective interventions and landscape-level planning-especially when declines are clear, threats are manageable, or the species has high ecological or cultural value.

CITES: Not automatically triggered by IUCN status; the species may or may not be listed in CITES Appendices I-III. If listed, international trade controls (permits, quotas, trade bans depending on Appendix) can apply regardless of Near Threatened status.
U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA): Near Threatened is not a legal category under the ESA. Full legal protections apply only if the species is formally listed as Endangered or Threatened. Proposed listings can trigger limited federal consultation requirements, but candidate species do not receive ESA legal protection.
EU Nature Directives (Habitats/Birds): Protections depend on whether the species is listed in annexes or is a protected bird species; NT alone does not create EU-wide legal protection but may influence assessments and national measures.
National and subnational wildlife laws: Many countries protect certain taxa, regulate hunting/collection, or protect habitats independently of IUCN category; NT status may support stronger national listing, harvest limits, or protected-area planning.
Regional agreements (examples): CMS (Bonn Convention) for migratory species, AEWA for African-Eurasian waterbirds, regional fisheries management measures, and other biodiversity accords may apply if the species is included in their schedules or management plans.
Protected area and land-use regulation: If the species occurs in protected habitats or key biodiversity areas, protections may arise from site-based designations even if the species is only Near Threatened.

Near Threatened status can be a mixed signal for funding. Many emergency and triage-oriented funds prioritize threatened categories (VU/EN/CR), so NT species may be less competitive for crisis-response grants. However, NT can strengthen proposals for preventive conservation, monitoring, and habitat management, and can fit well with funders focused on avoiding future declines. Access to funding often improves when applicants demonstrate clear downward trends, identified threats, and a credible plan to prevent uplisting, or when the species is part of broader ecosystem or protected-area projects.

Stories of Change

Status Transitions

Success Stories

Grey seal

near_threatened least_concern

In parts of its range, protections (hunting restrictions), reduced persecution, and improved management of key haul-out/breeding sites allowed populations to rebound and stabilize, reducing the likelihood of near-term qualification for a threatened category.

varies (reassessment-dependent; verify in IUCN Red List history for the species)

White-tailed eagle

near_threatened least_concern

Legal protection, reduced direct killing, habitat protection, and the phase-out of harmful pesticides (notably organochlorines) supported recovery in multiple countries, improving breeding success and rebuilding populations.

varies (reassessment-dependent; verify in IUCN Red List history for the species)

Tragic Losses

Sunda pangolin

Escalating illegal trade and overexploitation, combined with habitat loss, drove rapid declines across much of its range, pushing it from a near-threshold status into the highest threat category short of extinction.

varies (reassessment-dependent; verify in IUCN Red List history for the species)

Scalloped hammerhead

Intense fishing pressure (targeted catch and bycatch) and demand for fins, coupled with slow life history, led to steep declines in many areas and a reassessment into a more threatened category.

varies (reassessment-dependent; verify in IUCN Red List history for the species)

How You Can Help

Take Action

Conservation Strategies

Implement early-intervention habitat protection before declines accelerate (e.g., secure key sites, prevent conversion/fragmentation, establish buffer zones).
Strengthen monitoring and trend detection (standardized surveys, occupancy/abundance tracking, remote sensing for habitat change, community-based reporting).
Reduce emerging threats proactively (tighten regulation/enforcement on hunting/collection, bycatch mitigation, invasive species prevention/rapid response).
Maintain and restore connectivity to prevent isolation (wildlife corridors, fish passage, hedgerows/riparian strips, safe road crossings).
Targeted threat management at critical life stages (protect nesting/spawning areas, seasonal closures, disturbance-free breeding refuges).
Sustainable use and harvest management where relevant (science-based quotas, size/season limits, certification schemes, traceable supply chains).
Conflict prevention and coexistence measures (predator-proofing, compensation/insurance schemes, deterrents, community agreements).
Climate-risk planning and resilience actions (protect climate refugia, increase habitat heterogeneity, restore wetlands/forests for water retention).
Policy "uplisting prevention" plans (preemptive species action plans, integrate NT species into land-use plans, environmental impact assessments).
Genetic and population management where needed (protect subpopulations, maintain gene flow, avoid inbreeding; consider conservation translocations only if warranted).
Public awareness and stakeholder engagement focused on preventing status deterioration (work with landowners, fishers, farmers, local governments).

How You Can Help

Support early-action conservation funds and site protection projects (donate to land trusts/NGOs that purchase or legally secure key habitats).
Choose certified, traceable products that reduce habitat loss and overexploitation (e.g., FSC wood/paper, RSPO palm oil, MSC seafood) and avoid products linked to illegal wildlife trade.
Report wildlife crime and suspicious online sales (to local authorities; avoid sharing locations of sensitive species on social media).
Reduce disturbance in breeding/roosting areas (keep distance, follow seasonal trail/boat restrictions, leash dogs, avoid drones near wildlife).
Make your property more habitat-friendly (plant native species, remove invasives, reduce pesticides, add nesting/cover features, maintain dark-sky lighting).
Participate in monitoring programs (citizen science like eBird/iNaturalist; submit repeated observations to help detect declines early).
Advocate locally for proactive protections (support buffer zones, corridor projects, road-crossing structures, wetland protections, and stronger EIAs for development).
Reduce bycatch and entanglement risk if you fish or boat (use circle hooks/descending devices where applicable, dispose of line properly, follow gear rules).
Lower your climate and land-use footprint (reduce energy use, shift toward lower-impact diets, avoid food waste) to lessen pressures pushing NT species into threatened categories.
Volunteer for habitat restoration days (riparian planting, invasive removal, dune/wetland restoration) in areas supporting NT species.
Support coexistence programs if NT species conflict with people (fund predator-proof corrals, crop-protection measures, or community compensation schemes).
Learn which Near Threatened species occur in your region and prioritize local actions (support protected-area proposals, attend public hearings, and back science-based management plans).

Near Threatened is a classification category on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Threatened Species List. Currently 2,657 species are defined as near threatened. Scientists categorize a species as Near Threatened when conservationists believe that it will face extinction in the near future, but it doesn’t currently meet the standards for another category.

There are six main reasons why scientists categorize taxons as near threatened: