State of Nature report reveals decline of British wildlife.

A significant number of species, including the turtle dove, hazel dormouse, and European Eel are at serious risk of extinction in the UK, according to a comprehensive new report.

The latest State of Nature report, published this week, has revealed that nearly one in six of the more than 10,000 animal and plant species in the UK are at risk of extinction. This includes 43 per cent of bird species, 31 per cent of amphibian and reptile species, and 26 per cent of terrestrial mammal species.

The report highlights the impact of human activity, with climate change and farming named as the two biggest factors causing nature loss. The researchers found that since 1970, the abundance of the species studied has fallen by an average of 19 per cent.

However, conservation efforts are having a positive impact. Schemes such as the Cairngorms Connect and the Lyme Bay Marine Protected Area were praised for their success in restoring habitats.

Based on data from monitoring schemes and biological recording centres, the report was put together by experts from more than 60 conservation groups, government agencies, and research organisations. Groups involved included the RSPB, the National Trust, and Natural England.

Beccy Speight, chief executive of the RSPB, said: “The UK’s wildlife is better studied than in any other country in the world and what the data tell us should make us sit up and listen. What is clear, is that progress to protect our species and habitats has not been sufficient and yet we know we urgently need to restore nature to tackle the climate crisis and build resilience.

“We know that conservation works and how to restore ecosystems and save species. We need to move far faster as a society towards nature-friendly land and sea use, otherwise the UK’s nature and wider environment will continue to decline and degrade, with huge implications for our own way of life. It’s only through working together that we can help nature recover.”

In response to the release of the report, environment secretary Thérèse Coffey said: “The UK’s nature is a crucial part of our islands. That is why we put in law the requirement to halt the decline in nature and protect the abundance of species, why we are committed to increasing the amount of habitat for nature to thrive and why we were one of the first countries to pledge to protect 30 per cent of our land for nature by 2030.

“At the start of this year, I published our comprehensive Environmental Improvement Plan, setting out how we will create and restore at least 500,000 hectares of new wildlife habitats, starting with 70 new wildlife projects including 25 new or expanded National Nature Reserves.

“We also continue to clean up our rivers, plant more trees and through our world-leading environmental farming schemes support farmers to produce food sustainably and profitably.”

Image (C) Shutterstock