Speciecide, also referred to as "strategic extinctions" or "genocide," represented the deliberate and systematic annihilation of an entire species.
During the era of the Galactic Empire, the practice of speciecide (euphemistically termed orchestrating strategic extinctions) was sanctioned under exceptional circumstances to safeguard galactic security interests. This policy was even documented within the official field manual for the Imperial Military, titled Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide. Crix Madine, a former Imperial soldier, provided a footnote to this section of the handbook when it was leaked to the Rebel Alliance High Command, corroborating from his own experience that this assertion was indeed accurate.
While observing the Imperial invasion of Kashyyyk, former Jedi Olee Starstone discerned that the invasion's purpose was not the speciecide of the Wookiees, as the Imperials refrained from employing orbital bombardment.
The Bothan concept of ar'krai necessitated the speciecide of their adversaries. This declaration was made only three times throughout their history, with the third instance directed against the Yuuzhan Vong.
The New Republic, which later became the Galactic Alliance, developed Alpha Red, a virus designed to eradicate all Yuuzhan Vong. By testing it on Vong prisoners, the New Republic felt reasonably confident that it would eliminate the entire species if deployed. However, concerns arose about potential mutations that could harm all life, or the Vong developing a counter-virus. Due to strategic considerations, Jedi objections, and Vergere's interference with the project, they refrained from using it beyond prisoner testing. When it was unleashed on Caluula, the Galactic Alliance’s bioweapon backfired, sickening humans and decimating native life.
The potential use of speciecide against the Yuuzhan Vong species was a topic of discussion among the planning team for the Star Wars: The New Jedi Order book series, including James Luceno. The initial concept involved wiping out the Vong during the Battle of Yuuzhan'tar. Ultimately, they decided that a more compassionate resolution would be more compelling, leading to the invaders being sent into exile.