Bedrohtes

Bedrohtes is a term used in some Dutch- and German-language conservation texts to describe entities—typically species or habitats—that are considered to be under threat. It is not an official IUCN category, but rather a generic label employed in regional plans, educational materials, and linguistic studies to convey risk without prescribing a formal assessment threshold. The word derives from the verb bedrohen, meaning to threaten, with the suffix -es forming a neuter or collective descriptor in several languages.

Usage and scope: In practice, bedrohtes can refer to biological taxa (plants, animals) as well as ecosystems, landscapes, or cultural items that face threats such as habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution, or climate change. Because it is non-standard, the exact criteria vary by jurisdiction and document. Some authors may require a documented decline beyond a given rate or a known imminent threat, while others use it as a qualitative label alongside formal statuses.

Relation to formal systems: The term sits outside structured systems like the IUCN Red List categories (Least Concern to Critically Endangered). It can serve as a bridging or introductory label, highlighting urgency before a formal assessment is completed. Critics argue that non-standard terms can create confusion if not clearly defined within the same document or program.

See also: Threatened species, IUCN Red List, conservation status, habitat loss.