nearthreatened

Near Threatened (NT) is a conservation status assigned by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in its Red List of Threatened Species. It is used for species that do not currently meet the criteria for Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered, but are close to qualifying for Vulnerable or are likely to qualify for Threatened status in the near future.

NT indicates that a species is at risk, but data may show that declines, restricted geographic range, or population size are not yet severe enough to place it in a higher category. The designation serves as a warning and a signal for monitoring and potential preventive conservation actions.

The IUCN evaluates species against five criteria (A–E) relating to population reduction, geographic range, small population size and decline, very small or restricted populations, and quantitative extinction risk. A species may be listed as NT if it nearly meets one or more Vulnerable thresholds or if threats are likely to drive declines soon.

Status can change over time; an NT species could be reassigned to Least Concern if trends improve, or to Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered if threats escalate or data reveal greater risk.

In practice, the NT category helps prioritize monitoring, research, and conservation planning. It is commonly used alongside other national and regional red lists to guide resource allocation and policy decisions.