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Red, Blue & Yellow Lists

Last updated on November 8, 2023

Based on their conservation status rank, each species and ecosystem is assigned to the red, blue or yellow list to help set conservation priorities and provide a simplified view of the status of B.C.'s species and ecosystems.

These lists also help to identify species and ecosystems that can be considered for designation as "Endangered" or "Threatened."

There are a number of factors used in assessing the conservation status of ecological communities or species. The CDC assigns each one to the red, blue or yellow list based on their conservation status rank – a code that identifies the level of concern about their risk.

Species that are exotic (non-native) or accidental are not assigned a status rank and are not placed on the lists.

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Red List

See Conservation Status Rank Definitions

Element Types Status Ranks
Animals and Plants SX, SH, S1, S1S2, S2, S2?, S1S3
Ecological communities  SX, SH, S1, S1S2, S2
 

Blue List

See Conservation Status Rank Definitions

Element Types Status Ranks
Animals S2S3, S2S4, S3, S3? S3S4, S3S5
Ecological communities and Plants  S2S3, S2S4, S3, S3?
 

Yellow List

See Conservation Status Rank Definitions

Element Types Status Ranks
Animals S4, S4?, S4S5, S5
Ecological communities and Plants  S3S4, S3S5, S4, S4S5, S5
 

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.

 

Find out about how the red and blue lists were developed:

  • Harper, B., S. Cannings, D. Fraser and W.T. Munro. 1994. Provincial lists of species at risk. Pp. 16-23 in Biodiversity in British Columbia. L.E. Harding and E. McCullum (eds.), Canadian Wildlife Service, Delta, B.C. Available online here.

Data about species and ecosystems in B.C. can be found using one of these online tools:

The Conservation Data Centre uses the term "ecological community" in its data to capture the full range of ecosystems in B.C. at a variety of levels.

Contact information

Please contact the Conservation Data Centre for more information.

Office
250-356-0928
Email
cdcdata@gov.bc.ca