Why does Not Evaluated not describe a species’ conservation status?

The designation "Not Evaluated" (NE) does not describe a species’ conservation status because it is a category used for species that have been described by science but have not yet been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).12

Unlike categories such as Critically Endangered or Vulnerable, which are assigned based on rigorous, science-based evaluations of extinction risk, the NE label simply indicates that a formal assessment has not taken place. Because no data has been analyzed against the IUCN's quantitative criteria—such as population decline rates or geographic range—the category provides no information regarding the actual survival prospects or conservation needs of the organism.12