K3: Status of endemic and globally threatened species in the UK Overseas Territories
Short Description
The UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) are considered globally significant biodiversity hotspots, supporting complex ecosystems which are home to many species that are found nowhere else in the world. This indicator assesses the proportion of endemic species in the UKOTs that are considered threatened on International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessments. Threatened species are those that are in the Red List categories (Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered). Over time, the indicator will capture changes in the status of endemic species as new assessments are undertaken and species are reassessed.
The ongoing development of indicator K3 will contribute to the provision of an evidence base for future biodiversity conservation efforts in the UKOTs.
Readiness and links to data
This indicator is not available for reporting in 2024 in a finalised form. An interim indicator is presented here which shows the percentage of endemic species in all IUCN Red List categories, together with a combined threatened category and an unassessed category, across the UKOTs.
Data for this indicator have been obtained from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species and complemented by The UK's wildlife overseas: a stocktake of nature in our Overseas Territories. Species lists for each territory were reviewed and additional species added through direct engagement and contribution from the UKOTs. Work is ongoing with the UKOTs, evaluating additional species records and assessing endemic status to further expand and refine the current data set. This indicator will track changes in the status of endemic species as additional Red List assessments are undertaken, including being able to identify trends over time in the future.
Detailed information on data collection and analysis is available in JNCC Report Number 739.
In September 2023 the Office for Statistics Regulation updated their guidance surrounding experimental statistics and renamed them Official Statistics in Development. In accordance with the updated guidance, we have removed the label from this indicator. We welcome any feedback on these statistics, particularly on their usefulness and value, via 25YEPindicators@defra.gov.uk.
Notes on indicator
This indicator includes data from 13 of the UK Overseas Territories; the British Antarctic Territory is not included.
The global red list assessment status of endemic species have been used in this indicator; it does not contain regional red list assessment status. Species that have regional assessments but not global assessments and are known endemic species have been included in this database in the unassessed category.
Species records from the IUCN Red List have been included up to July 2022. Additional data from the Stocktake and from direct engagement with the UKOTs has also been included up to January 2023. In total, this represents 449 species (68.8% of species endemic to the UKOTs); a further 204 species are either still to be assessed or cannot be assessed due to data deficiencies.
Indicator components
Figure K3: Status of endemic and globally threatened species in the UK Overseas Territories, 2022
Table K3: Status of endemic and globally threatened species in the UK Overseas Territories, 2022
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Unassessed | 24.70 |
| Data deficient | 6.60 |
| Least concern | 12.90 |
| Near threatened | 3.10 |
| Vulnerable | 10.60 |
| Endangered | 14.20 |
| Critically endangered | 20.70 |
| Extinct in the wild | 0.80 |
| Extinct | 6.60 |
| Threatened categories | 45.50 |
Trend description for K3
As of January 2023, 45.5% of the endemic species in the UKOT’s are considered threatened. These fall under the Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered IUCN Red List categories, with 69, 93 and 135 species under each category respectively. A further 6.6% and 0.8% of endemic species are considered Extinct or Extinct in the Wild respectively. Note that of the current endemic species list, 24.7% are unassessed.
Assessment of change
No assessment of change was undertaken for this indicator as a suitable time series is not yet available.