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B.C. List Status

Species (including subspecies, varieties and populations) and ecological communities are assigned to provincial lists depending on their Provincial Conservation Status (see table below). The lists are as follows:

Extinct: Species that no longer exist. This status is only assigned if the Global Conservation Status rank is GX.

Red: Includes any native species or ecological communities that have, or are candidates for, Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened status in British Columbia. Extirpated species no longer exist in the wild in British Columbia, but do occur elsewhere. Endangered species and ecological communities are facing imminent extirpation or extinction. Threatened species and ecological communities are likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed. Not all Red-listed species or ecological communities will necessarily become formally designated. Placing species or ecological communities on these lists flags them as being at risk and requiring investigation.

Blue: Includes any native species or ecological community considered to be of Special Concern (formerly Vulnerable) in British Columbia. Species or ecological communities of Special Concern have characteristics that make them particularly sensitive or vulnerable to human activities or natural events. Blue-listed species or ecological communities are at risk, but are not Extirpated, Endangered or Threatened.

Yellow: Includes species or ecological communities that are apparently secure and not at risk of extinction. Yellow-listed species may have red- or blue-listed subspecies.

Exotic: Species that have been moved beyond their natural range as a result of human activity. Exotic species are also known as alien species, foreign species, introduced species, non-indigenous species and non-native species. Exotic species are excluded from the Red, Blue and Yellow Lists as a Provincial Conservation Status Rank is not applicable (i.e. SNA).

Accidental: Species occurring infrequently and unpredictably, outside their usual range. Accidental species are excluded from the Red, Blue and Yellow Lists as a Provincial Conservation Status Rank is not applicable (i.e., SNA).

Unknown: Includes species or ecological communities for which the Provincial Conservation Status is unknown due to extreme uncertainty (e.g., S1S4). It will also be 'Unknown' if it is uncertain whether the entity is native (Red, Blue or Yellow), introduced (Exotic) or accidental in B.C. This designation highlights species and ecological communities where more inventory and/or data gathering is needed.

No Status:

  • No Status is assigned to the animal species record when all related infraspecies (e.g., subspecies, population, ecotype, etc.) in BC have been assigned to the Red, Blue, or Yellow List.
  • Example: There are two populations of Northern Painted Turtle in B.C.; one is on the BC Red List, the other is on the BC Blue List. The species record for Northern Painted Turtle is therefore assigned No Status
  • No Status is assigned to plant hybrids (i.e. hybrids without conservation value) where the Provincial Conservation Status Rank is SNA.
  • Not Reviewed

  • Species and ecological communities that have not undergone a conservation status assessment (i.e., Provincial Conservation Status Rank is SNR).
  • Species that have Provincial Conservation Status Ranks assigned from National General Status Program, but have not been reviewed or verified by the BC CDC.
  • Conservation Status & B.C. List

      Red List Blue List Yellow List

    Animals*
    (Regularly Occurring)

    SX, SH, S1, S1?, S1S2, S1S3, S2, S2? S2S3, S2S4, S3, S3?, S3S4, S3S5 S4, S4?, S4S5, S5
    Plants/Ecological Communities SX, SH, S1, S1?, S1S2, S1S3, S2, S2? S2S3, S2S4, S3, S3? S3S4, S3S5, S4, S4S5, S5