New Zealand Threat Classification System

The New Zealand Threat Classification System is used by the Department of Conservation to assess conservation priorities of species in New Zealand.[1]

The system was developed because the IUCN Red List, a similar conservation status system, had some shortcomings for the unique requirements of conservation ranking in New Zealand. As of 2011, plants, animals, and fungi are evaluated, though the lattermost has yet to be published.[2] Algae were assessed in 2005 but not reassessed since.[2] Other protists have not been evaluated.[2]

Categories
Structure of New Zealand threat classification system
The structure of the New Zealand Threat Classification System (2007 revision).

Species that are ranked are assigned categories:[3]

Threatened
This category has three major divisions:
  • Nationally Critical - equivalent to the IUCN category of Critically endangered
  • Nationally Endangered - equivalent to the IUCN category of Endangered
  • Nationally Vulnerable - equivalent to the IUCN category of Vulnerable
At Risk
This has four categories:
  • Declining
  • Recovering
  • Relict
  • Naturally Uncommon

Other categories
Introduced and Naturalised
These are any species that are deliberately or accidentally introduced into New Zealand.
Migrant
Migrant species are those that visit New Zealand as part of their life cycle.
Vagrant
Vagrants are taxa that are rare in New Zealand that have made their own way and do not breed successfully.
Coloniser
These taxa have arrived in New Zealand without human help and reproduce successfully.
Data Deficient
This category lists taxa for which insufficient information is available to make as assessment on conservation status.
Extinct
Taxa for which there is no reasonable doubt that no individuals exist are ranked as extinct. For these lists only species that have become extinct since 1840 are listed.
Not Threatened
If taxa fit into none of the other categories they are listed in the Not Threatened category.

Qualifiers

A series of qualifiers are used to give additional information on the threat classification:[1][3]

Qualifier Definition
CD Conservation Dependent Likely to move to a higher threat category if current management ceases
DP Data Poor Confidence in the listing is low due to the poor data available for assessment
De Designated The criteria does not completely apply to the taxa
EW Extinct in the Wild Exists only in cultivation or in captivity
EF Extreme Fluctuations Extreme unnatural population fluctuations, or natural fluctuations overlaying human-induced declines, that increase the threat of extinction
Inc Increasing Population thought to increase 10% over 3 generations or 10 years
IE Island Endemic Endemic only to a single archipelago and not the main islands
OL One Location Found at one location (geographically or ecologically distinct area) in which a single event (such as a predator irruption) could soon affect all individuals of the taxon
PD Partial Decline Taxa has one or more secure populations but otherwise is declining
RR Range Restricted taxa confined to less than 1,000 km2 (390 sq mi)
RF Recruitment Failure Current population may appear stable but the age structure is such that catastrophic declines are likely in the future
SO Secure Overseas Secure in other parts of its natural range outside New Zealand
Sp Sparse Taxa in small, scattered populations
ST Stable Total population stable
TO Threatened Overseas Threatened in those parts of its natural range outside New Zealand

See also

References
  1. Molloy, Janice; Bell, B.; Clout, M.; de Lange, P.; Gibbs, G.; Given, D.; Norton, D.; Smith, N.; Stephens, T. (2002). "Classifying species according to threat of extinction. A system for New Zealand" (PDF). Department of Conservation (New Zealand). Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  2. Hitchmough, Rod (June 2013). Summary of changes to the conservation status of taxa in the 2008–11 New Zealand Threat Classification System listing cycle (PDF). Wellington, NZ: Publishing Team, Department of Conservation. ISBN 9780478149869. ISSN 2324-1713. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  3. Townsend, Andrew J.; de Lange, Peter J.; Duffy, Clinton A.J.; Miskelly, Colin M.; Molloy, Janice; Norton, David A. (January 2008). New Zealand Threat Classification System manual (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Science & Technical Publishing Department of Conservation. ISBN 9780478143645. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
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