The purpose and effect of these rule changes are to conserve or improve the status of endangered and threatened species by effectively reducing the risk of extinction through the use of a science-based process that is objective and quantifiable, that accurately identifies endangered and threatened species that are in need of special actions to prevent further imperilment, that identifies a framework for developing management strategies and interventions to reduce threats causing imperilment, and that prevents species from being threatened to such an extent that they become regulated and managed under the Federal Endangered Species Act.