The Red Data Book is a report compiled by the Environment Agency classifying various threatened animals in Japan and their present status. From a biological viewpoint, the Environment Agency has evaluated the extinction risk level of each individual taxon and compiled a list for the Red Data Book. However, the Book possesses no legal power to enforce regulations concerning threatened species. The Red Data Book is broadly employed as fundamental information for advancing the preservation of threatened wild animals. |
JAPANESE RED DATA BOOK CATEGORIES |
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EXTINCT |
EX |
A taxon considered to have become extinct in Japan. |
EXTINCT IN THE WILD |
EW |
A taxon known to survive only under conservation or in captivity. |
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED |
CR |
A taxon facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future. |
ENDANGERED |
EN |
A taxon facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future though not critically endangered. |
VULNERABLE |
VU |
A taxon facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future though not critically endangered or endangered. |
NEAR THREATENED |
NT |
A taxon which can qualify for VULNERABLE in the future depending on its habitat conditions, although it is not facing a high risk of extinction at this present stage. |
DATA DEFFICIENT |
DD |
A taxon about which there is not adequate information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction. |
THREATENED LOCAL |
LP |
A taxon facing a high risk of extinction in a certain locality among its limited specific habitats. |
From Environment Agency press materials |