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Environmental Indicator K3: 2026 update on the status of endemic and globally threatened species in the UK Overseas Territories 2026

Abstract

The UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) support globally important biodiversity and are home to thousands of species found nowhere else in the world. Many of these endemic species face significant pressures from habitat loss, invasive non-native species, climate change and other threats. Understanding the conservation status of endemic species is therefore essential for informing conservation action and monitoring progress towards national and international biodiversity commitments.

Indicator K3 forms part of the Environmental Indicator Framework and measures the status of endemic and globally threatened species in the UKOTs. The indicator is based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List Categories and Criteria, which provide a globally recognised framework for assessing species extinction risk. For the purposes of this indicator, threatened species are those classified as Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

The indicator has been primarily developed using data from the IUCN Red List (version 2026-1) and The UK's Wildlife Overseas: a Stocktake of Nature in our Overseas Territories (Churchyard et al., 2014). Additional endemic species have been identified through literature reviews undertaken by JNCC and provided directly by UKOT Governments and Administrations. Together, these sources have enabled the development of the endemic species dataset for the purposes of the K3 indicator.

This report is an update to, and replaces, JNCC Report 739, 'Indicator K3: Status of endemic and globally threatened species in the UK Overseas Territories', published in 2023; and JNCC Report 795, '25 Year Environment Plan Outcome Indicator K3: Status of endemic and globally threatened species in the UK Overseas Territories (2025 update)', published in 2025.

This report may not be fully accessible for all users. If you need a copy in a different or more accessible format, please contact Communications@jncc.gov.uk.

Resource type Publication

Topic category Environment

Reference date 2026·09·16

Citation
Farquharson, L.R. 2026. Environmental Indicator K3: 2026 update on the status of endemic and globally threatened species in the UK Overseas Territories. JNCC Report 835, JNCC, Peterborough, ISSN 0963-8091.

Lineage
This report provides an update on the development of Environmental Indicator K3 (Status of endemic and globally threatened species in the UK Overseas Territories). It replaces JNCC Report 739, published in 2023; and JNCC Report 795, published in 2025.

Responsible organisation
Communications, JNCC publisher

Limitations on public access No limitations

Use constraints Available under the Open Government Licence 3.0

Metadata date 2026·09·16

Metadata point of contact
Communications, JNCC

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