a taxon is Lower Risk when it has been evaluated, but does not satisfy the criteria for any of the categories Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. Taxa included in the Lower Risk category can be separated into three subcategories:

1. Conservation Dependent (cd). Taxa which are
the focus of a continuing taxon-specific or
habitat-specific conservation programme
targeted towards the taxon in question, the
cessation of which would result in the taxon
qualifying for one of the threatened categories
above within a period of five years.

2. Near Threatened (nt). Taxa which do not qualify
for Conservation Dependent, but which are
close to qualifying for Vulnerable.

3. Least Concern (lc). Taxa which do not qualify for
Conservation Dependent or Near Threatened.

[information taken from the IUCN homepage at http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/redlist/ redlist.htm]