Endangered species are living organisms that are threatened by extinction or disappearance from a certain region. Human activity has resulted in many species becoming endangered and extinct throughout history.

The Arctic fox is an extremely endangered species.

Human activity threatens the continued survival of many species both directly and indirectly. For example, the Arctic fox has become endangered because of humans hunting it for its beautiful white fur. Human activity has also indirectly influenced the endangerment of the Arctic fox, as global warming has caused the species' habitats to grow smaller.

The most endangered species of our forests include the animals, plants and fungi that live in old, natural forests. Approximately 36 % of all the endangered species in Finland live in forests, of which over 80 % specifically live in old forests. The majority of these endangered species are either invertebrates or fungi.