Threatened species: classification systems and their applications

Threatened species are those species most at risk of becoming extinct in the near future. Multiple systems have been created to classify species according to their extinction risk at national, regional and global levels. The resulting threatened species assessments can provide valuable insight into current biodiversity status and trends. Threatened species lists have become important tools for conservation and are widely influential in informing national and international conservation policies and priority-setting strategies, conservation planning and resource allocation, directing scientific research and generating public awareness of the mounting biodiversity crisis and its impact on human well-being.