UK nature is in trouble that is the conclusion of a groundbreaking report published today by a
coalition of leading conservation and research organisations.
Scientists working
side-by-side from 25 wildlife organisations have compiled a stock take of our
native species the first of its kind in the UK. The report reveals
that 60% of the species studied have declined over recent decades.
More than one in ten of all the species assessed are under threat of
disappearing from our shores altogether.
In Merseyside, experts are
particularly concerned about the state of nature in farmland areas.
According to the report, out of the 1,064 farmland species for which
there is information, 60% of them have declined.
David Morris, the RSPB s
Conservation Manager for North West England, said: Many of the species that are in trouble live
in the extensive farmland areas of the county.
These range from skylarks to hedgehogs
and brown hares. If we want to
reverse these declines we need to ensure that farmers are given
sufficient resources and support to be able to manage their land in a
wildlife-friendly way.
In the fields and meadows of
Merseyside brown hares and water voles, once abundant in this region,
have suffered following the removal of hedgerows and the modification
of water courses.
Anne Selby, Chief Executive
for the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North
Merseyside said: Our Trust has been
involved in major projects to help these
species recover and prosper. The region is
still a stronghold for hares
and water voles but numbers are a fraction of what they used to be. Many
farmers have worked with us to try to reverse these declines.
The State of Nature report
will be launched by Sir David Attenborough and UK conservation charities
at the Natural History Museum in London this evening (May 22), while
simultaneous events will be held in
Edinburgh, Cardiff and
Belfast.
Sir David Attenborough
said: This groundbreaking report is a
stark warning but it is also a sign of hope.
For 60 years I have travelled the world
exploring the wonders of nature and sharing that wonder
with the public. But as a boy my first inspiration came from
discovering the UK s own wildlife.
Our islands have a rich diversity of habitats
which support some truly amazing plants and animals. We
should all be proud of the beauty we find on our own doorstep; from
bluebells carpeting woodland floors and delicately patterned
fritillary butterflies, to the graceful basking shark and the majestic golden
eagle soaring over the Scottish mountains.
This report shows that our species are in
trouble, with many declining at a worrying rate. However,
we have in this country a network of passionate conservation groups
supported by millions of people who love
wildlife. The experts have
come together today to highlight the amazing nature we have around us and
to ensure that it remains here for generations to come.
Dr Mark Eaton, a lead author
on the report, said: This report reveals that the UK s nature is in
trouble - overall we are losing wildlife at an alarming rate.
These declines are happening across all
countries and UK Overseas Territories, habitats and
species groups, although it is probably greatest amongst insects, such
as our moths, butterflies and beetles.
Other once common species like the lesser
spotted woodpecker, garden tiger moth and hedgehog are vanishing
before our eyes.
Reliable data on these species goes back just
fifty years, at most, but we know that there has
been a historical pattern of loss in the UK going back even further.
Threats including sweeping habitat loss,
changes to the way we manage
our countryside, and the more recent impact of climate change, have
had a major impact on our wildlife, and they are not going away.
None of this work would have been possible
without the army of volunteer wildlife enthusiasts
who spend their spare time surveying species and recording their
findings. Our knowledge of nature in the UK would be significantly poorer
without these unsung heroes, and that knowledge is the most essential tool that
conservationists have.
No comments:
Post a Comment