Foreword
New Zealand has some of the most ancient and fascinating species in the world. Many of our plants and animals are found nowhere else. But we are also world leaders in our rates of extinctions and in our levels of threatened species - a legacy of a history of unsustainable harvest, habitat destruction and alien species introduction.
Preventing the extinction of New Zealand’s unique plant and animal species is a critical element in the Government’s New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy: a responsibility we owe to the rest of the world. But this is not a small task.
A vital step in doing this is to identify those species that are at risk of extinction, and to measure the level and nature of that risk. This information will allow us to focus our resources on the highest priority actions necessary to prevent extinction.
Details within this section are listed alphabetically according to their
- common name (if known),
- taxon name (short for taxonomy which is the scientific name for a species of plant or animal)
- threat level and
- qualifier (if appropriate), which adds meaning to the threat classification.
Criteria - threat levels
The definitions displayed below outline the criteria for the acutely threatened, chronically threatened and at risk categories. For a full explanation of all categories you can view pages 17 to 21 of DOC's publication: Classifying species according to threat of extinction (PDF, 570K)
1 Nationally critical
Very small population or a very high predicted decline.
2 Nationally endangered
Small population and moderate to high recent or predicted decline or
Small to moderate population and high recent or predicted decline.
3 Nationally vulnerable
Small to moderate population and moderate recent or predicted decline.
4 Serious decline
Moderate to large population and moderate to large predicted decline, or
Small to moderate population and small to moderate predicted decline.
5 Gradual decline
Moderate to large population and small to moderate decline.
6 Sparse
Taxa with very small, widely scattered populations.
7 Range restricted
These taxa either occur in a small geographic area, are restricted to a particular habitat, or require very specific substrates, and for colonial breeders, have fewer than 10 subpopulations.
Qualifier definitions
Qualifiers provide additional information which adds meaning to the threat classification. They are an intergral part of the classification of each taxon. There are eleven qualifiers listed below and when a taxon is listed all of the qualifiers that apply to it are recorded.
1 Extinct in the wild
Exists only in cultivation or in captivity.
2 Conservation dependant
Likely to move to a higher threat category if current management ceases.
3 Data poor
Confidence in the listing is low due to the poor data available for assessment.
4 Recovering
Total population showing a sustained recovery.
5 Stable
Total population stable.
6 Secure overseas
Secure in other parts of its natural range outside New Zealand.
7 Threatened overseas
Threatened in those parts of its natural range outside New Zealand.
8 Human induced
Present distribution is a result of direct or indirect human activity.
9 Recruitment failure
Current population may appear stable but the age structure is such that catastrophic declines are likely in the future.
10 Extreme fluctuations
Extreme unnatural population fluctuations, or natural fluctuations overlaying human-induced declines, that increase the threat of extinction.
11 One location
Found at one location (geographically or ecologically distinct area) in which a single event (e.g. a predator irruption) could soon affect all individuals of the taxon.
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