Populations plummeting
Wildlife is rapidly dying out across Europe, as biodiverse habitats are invaded by urban sprawl, intensive agriculture, alien species and commercial forestry.
This is according to the European Commission鈥檚 forthcoming report assessing Europe鈥檚 biodiversity, expected to be published later this week. The report is a mid-term review of progress towards the EU鈥檚 Biodiversity Strategy, . The strategy has the overall target of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2020, and where possible restoring biodiversity that鈥檚 already been lost.
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It seems that, at the moment, biodiversity is still in decline. 鈥淲e鈥檙e losing and fragmenting natural areas,鈥� says Frank Wugt Larsen of the .
Larsen revealed that 77 per cent of Europe鈥檚 most biodiverse habitats were judged to be in an 鈥渦nfavourable conservation status鈥� between 2007 and 2013. The position was equally bleak for species diversity, with 60 per cent of assessed species not in a favourable position.
Pollination threat
Butterflies, bees and birds are all in decline. The report reveals, for example, that populations of grassland butterflies halved between 1990 and 2011 and 24 per cent of European bumblebee species are now threatened by extinction.
The report also warns that the decline in pollinator insects could affect agriculture, seeing as 84 per cent of Europe鈥檚 crops have at least some dependence on insect pollination. Between 2000 and 2010, the capacity of insects to pollinate crops decreased by around 5 per cent because of their dwindling numbers.
鈥淭he value of insect pollination is estimated at 鈧�14 billion per year, but we get it for free,鈥� says Larsen. 鈥淲e depend on nature to deliver these goods and services.鈥�
Small success
The same bleak picture is painted for Europe鈥檚 fish stocks and marine habitats. Only 7 per cent of species and 9 per cent of habitats in the marine environment were rated as 鈥渋n favourable conservation status鈥�.
Larsen says that many fish stocks are still fished above their maximum sustainable yield.
Europe鈥檚 common bird populations are doing no better. Numbers have declined by 12 per cent since 1990. The declines have affected the 39 species of farmland birds most severely, their populations collectively declining by 20 per cent.
On a more positive front, large carnivores, including the brown bear, the lynx and the wolf, are recovering.
Also, the Europe-wide has been growing and now covers 18 per cent of the EU. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an area twice the size of Spain,鈥� says Larsen.
