Species of conservation concern

The following criteria are based on the UK criteria, developed by the JNCC.

Priority Species Criteria

• Are a UK Priority species
• Are considered to be an endangered species in Ireland
• Are rapidly declining in Northern Ireland (rapid decline means any species that is declining by 2% per year or 50% in the last 25 years)
• Have more than 20% of their total population in either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and are rare or declining
• Have more than 50% of their Irish population in Northern Ireland and are rare or declining

Species of Conservation Concern (SOCC) Criteria

• The species is listed as a UK priority species
• It is listed in the Irish Red Data book or identified as of conservation concern for the whole of Ireland
• Be in decline, rare or scarce and declining in Northern Ireland (rare =50-100% decline in number/range in NI in last 25 years; scarce = 25-49%)
• Have a large proportion of their international, UK or Irish population in Northern Ireland
• The species is known to be genetically distinct in Ireland (e.g. an Irish sub-species)