uhanalainen

Uhanalainen is a Finnish term used in ecology and conservation to describe a species or population that faces a high risk of extinction in the wild. In everyday language it is often translated as endangered, but in scientific and policy contexts it signals a formal risk status requiring attention and protective action. The expression is common in phrases such as uhanalainen laji (endangered species) and appears in academic texts, government reports, and biodiversity programs.

The word is formed from the root uhka, meaning threat, and the suffix -lainen, which denotes a characteristic or belonging to a category. The term conveys a state of vulnerability and the need for conservation measures, and it can be applied to both animals and plants as well as distinct populations or subspecies when their status warrants concern.

In practice, uhanalainen denotes species or populations that meet criteria indicating a high risk of extinction, as reflected in national red lists and international assessments. The designation informs conservation priorities, legal protections, and resource allocation for habitat preservation, restoration, and research. It is used across governmental, academic, and non-governmental contexts to communicate risk to policymakers and the public.

Finnish usage aligns with international conservation taxonomy, which includes categories such as critically endangered and endangered, though the exact phrasing may vary between national lists and translations. The term remains central to biodiversity reporting, environmental planning, and public awareness campaigns, signaling the urgency of protective action for threatened species.