That's the word from the "Species Report Card," a report released yesterday by the Nature Conservancy.

"The health of our native species is an indication of the country's and the state's overall environmental condition," said Alan Holt, deputy director of the organization's Hawaii office.

"When one species goes extinct, society tries to overlook it, but when one-third of all our species are in danger of being lost forever, we need to collectively take notice and do more."

The annual report draws upon scientific databases kept by the Nature Conservancy and the Natural Heritage Network to track the status of about 20,500 plants and animals across the country. That's about one-fifth of the nation's known species. Researchers said it is the most comprehensive assessment available on the health of native species.

The findings are intended to guide research and protection priorities and do not confer any legal protection. Many of those species found to be at risk for extinction are not on the federal endangered species list, although they may be potential candidates.

Hawaii is home to at least 828 of the 6,833 species that are most at risk of extinction.

Plants comprise the bulk of the state's most imperiled species, a trend that is true nationwide, where about 5,000 species of flowering plants are at risk of being lost in the wild.

The report found that freshwater habitats are faring the worst, with fish, amphibians and mussels all doing poorly. Although none of those creatures are considered endangered in Hawaii, biologists say populations of native fish, shrimp and snails are declining locally.

Besides being the endangered species capital of the nation, Hawaii has also experienced many extinctions. Some 269 species are presumed extinct in Hawaii, with 26 of those occurring since European contact.

That compares to the 100 plant and animals species that have gone extinct since European contact with the mainland. Another 416 mainland species are missing and likely extinct.

Sam Gon, an ecologist with Hawaii's Natural Heritage program, said the state's high numbers of extinctions are "distressing but not surprising" in light of the challenges faced by the islands' unique flora and fauna. "The number of extinctions in Hawaii is extraordinary given the relatively small number of native species that occurs here," he said.

The greatest threat to Hawaii's native species is alien pests, including feral pigs, goats, deer, insects and exotic plants. These invasive species harm watersheds, introduce disease and disrupt native ecosystems.

But while the report documented the imperiled status of many plants and animals, it also noted that some species that were believed extinct have been rediscovered. Hawaii scientists also recently have found new species of insects and plants.

To aid that effort, Canon USA Inc. has awarded the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii a $15,000 grant that will be used to send scientists into the field to look for species that are known only from historical records, but may not be extinct. Maui's Kula Forest Reserve and Molokai's Wailau Valley are targeted for the research, which will begin this year.