The Species at Risk (Pie Chart) KPI measures the extinction risk of species present in the study area, according to the classification of the European Red List (European Red Lists, EEA). The indicator assesses the presence of threatened species and signals the need for active conservation measures. The pie chart visualization shows the percentage distribution of at-risk species by IUCN risk category.
Biodiversity loss is accelerated by human activity: Ceballos et al. (2015) estimate that the current extinction rate is 8 to 100 times higher than the background extinction rate, constituting a true sixth mass extinction event. The presence of vulnerable species in the study area is a direct signal of the health of the local ecosystem.
IUCN categories considered: only species with a risk level of VU or higher are counted:
| Category | Code | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Vulnerable | VU | High risk of extinction in the wild |
| Endangered | EN | Very high risk of extinction |
| Critically Endangered | CR | Extremely high risk of extinction |
| Extinct in the Wild | EW | Survives only in captivity or as introduced populations |
| Extinct | EX | No known living individuals |
Categories LC (Least Concern), NT (Near Threatened), DD (Data Deficient) and NE (Not Evaluated) are not included in the count.
The calculation uses the European Red Lists of Species (EEA, 2024). For each study area, species are identified via spatial intersection between the site polygon and the European Red List database. Species classified as EX or EW without observation geometry are supplemented from the IUCN Red List 2025. The final count includes species with category VU, EN, CR, EW, or EX (and related sub-categories).
The pie chart shows the percentage distribution of at-risk species by IUCN category.
Inverted indicator: lower values = fewer at-risk species = ecosystem in better health.
Gauge. Semicircular arc showing the site score on the A--E scale for the number of at-risk species.
Purpose: How many IUCN at-risk species are present in the study area relative to the quality thresholds?
Description: The component is an expandable card with the title "At-risk species" and an E4 badge. At the top are the ESRS badge "ESRS: E4 - IRO ESRS 2 IRO-1 AR. 9 (a)" and the site score. The semicircular gauge shows the current quality level with a marker on the arc; below the arc, the site value (species count), control value, and scale min/max (A = 0, E = 20) are displayed. Within the section, three tabs are available: Chart (pie distribution by IUCN category), Summary, and Table (full species list).
8At-risk Species
How it's calculated: The number of at-risk species (VU, EN, CR, EW, EX and related categories) is mapped to the A--E scale. The indicator is inverted: 0--1 species = A (Excellent), 2--5 = B (Good), 5--10 = C (Moderate), 10--15 = D (Poor), > 15 = E (Critical).
Note: This indicator is inverted -- lower values indicate better conditions.
Legend:
| Level | No. at-risk species | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 0 -- 1 | ■ #00A67A | No or extremely rare at-risk species in the area |
| B | 2 -- 5 | ■ #00DF80 | Few at-risk species; ecosystem in good condition |
| C | 5 -- 10 | ■ #FFD21E | Significant presence of vulnerable species |
| D | 10 -- 15 | ■ #FF8B16 | High pressure on species; interventions recommended |
| E | > 15 | ■ #FF367F | Biodiversity crisis; urgent conservation measures needed |
Interpretation example:
If the gauge shows 21 species with an E score, it means that over 20 species with VU or higher threat status in the European Red List have been detected in the study area -- a critical situation signaling strong local pressure on biodiversity and requiring active conservation measures.
Doughnut Chart. A pie/doughnut chart showing the percentage breakdown of at-risk species by IUCN threat category.
Purpose: Which IUCN threat categories dominate among the at-risk species detected in the study area?
Description: The chart is accessible via the "Chart" tab inside the At-risk species card. Each slice represents one IUCN category (VU, EN, CR, EW, EX) and its size corresponds to the percentage of at-risk species in that category. The chart uses category-specific colors and labels each slice with the category code and count.
Species by IUCN Category
VU (45%)EN (30%)CR (15%)EW (5%)EX (5%)
How it's calculated: The species identified within the site polygon are grouped by IUCN category. The chart displays the percentage share of each threat level among all species classified as VU or higher.
Interpretation example:
If the doughnut shows VU = 45%, EN = 30%, CR = 15%, EW = 5%, EX = 5%, the majority of at-risk species are Vulnerable or Endangered -- indicating biodiversity pressure that has not yet reached the most critical stages for most species, but active monitoring and habitat protection are recommended.
Data Table. Complete list of species present in the study area with taxonomic category, scientific name, and IUCN threat level.
Purpose: Provide the detailed list of individual species detected in the area, with information on demographic trends, geographic distribution, and pressure factors.
Description: The table is accessible via the "Table" tab in the State of species section. It contains three columns: Category (taxonomic group: Birds, Insects, Plants, Fish, etc.), Name (scientific species name), Threat Level (IUCN code). Species are sorted by decreasing threat level (RE, CR, EN, VU, NT, LC). At the top of the table, the heading "Species at risk" appears with counters for surveys and threatened species.
How it's calculated: The table shows all species identified via spatial intersection of the site polygon with the EEA European Red Lists 2024 and IUCN Red List 2025 sources. Each row corresponds to one species with its official risk classification.
Interpretation example:
If the table shows "Geronticus eremita -- RE (Locally extinct)" and "Vanellus gregarius -- CR (Critically endangered)", the site is located in a historically significant area for these species, with indications of significant ecological degradation and high conservation priority.
Assessment Sidebar Row. Row in the assessment sidebar showing the at-risk species KPI with Site and Control indicators.
Purpose: Provide quick access to the Site vs Control comparison for the at-risk species KPI when navigating any section of the assessment.
Description: The assessment sidebar is always visible on the left in assessment pages. The "At-risk species" row sits under the "E4 | Biodiversity" group and shows two colored badges: the site value and the control value, both with their corresponding A--E grade. Clicking the row navigates to the State of species section.
How it's calculated: Same calculation as the main gauge. The displayed value is the A--E grade for the site and control area respectively.
Interpretation example:
If the row shows "Site: E -- Control: C", it means the site has far more at-risk species (> 15) than the surrounding area (5--10), indicating a site-specific local pressure on biodiversity.
Highlights Table Row. Column in the multi-site comparison table on the Highlights page showing the number of at-risk species per site.
Purpose: Enable quick comparison of at-risk species counts across all sites in the oasis.
Description: The "At-risk species" column shows the numeric count of at-risk species for each row/site. The table is filterable by LEAP Framework and Theme (biodiversity, climate, water, pollution, risk). The column tooltip reads: "Indicates the number of at-risk species that have been identified in the analysis area."
How it's calculated: The value is the raw count of species with category VU, EN, CR, EW, or EX (and related sub-categories) identified within the site polygon.
Interpretation example:
If the table shows "Site A: 3, Site B: 21", it means Site B has far higher biodiversity pressure -- critical information for prioritizing conservation interventions across the portfolio.
| Source | Provider | Coverage | Resolution | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Red Lists of Species | EEA (European Environment Agency) | Europe | Species-level | 2024 |
| IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | IUCN | Global | Species-level | 2025 |
For each study area, species are identified via spatial intersection between the site polygon and the European Red List database (EEA, 2024). Species classified as EX or EW without GBIF observation geometry are supplemented from the IUCN Red List 2025 source. The final count includes species with threat category VU, EN, CR, EW, EX, and related sub-categories (CR_PE, ER, RE).
The pie chart aggregates all species classified as VU or higher by IUCN category and calculates the percentage share of each category. The gauge score maps the total count to the A--E quality scale using fixed thresholds: 0--1 = A, 2--5 = B, 5--10 = C, 10--15 = D, > 15 = E. The indicator is inverted: fewer at-risk species correspond to better ecological quality.
EEA -- European Environment Agency (2024). European Red Lists of Species. Available at: www.eea.europa.eu
IUCN (2024). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2024. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org
Ceballos, G., Ehrlich, P.R., Barnosky, A.D., Garcia, A., Pringle, R.M., Palmer, T.M. (2015). "Accelerated modern human-induced species losses: Entering the sixth mass extinction". Science Advances, 1(5), e1400253.