According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), one in six mammal species in Europe is at risk of extinction, and the population of more than a quarter of mammals is declining. The numbers are also dramatic for birds: according to a study by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the number of birds in Europe has fallen by 600 million over the past 40 years. In Austria, 39 percent of all animal species are endangered.
“The species crisis has firmly gripped Europe – and means much more than the disappearance of individual animals. When biodiversity declines, it affects entire ecosystems and ultimately poses a direct threat to our livelihoods. We must finally act now to species crisis,” explains Lukas Meus, biodiversity expert at Greenpeace in Austria.
1677 animal and plant species threatened with extinction
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 1,677 animal and plant species in Europe are at risk of extinction out of a total of 15,066 assessed species. The Arctic fox, European mink, Mediterranean monk seal, North Atlantic right whale, and polar bear are among the most endangered mammals.
The reasons for the loss of species are diverse, but are mainly caused by humans. Think of industrial agriculture, deforestation, pollution of nature and the impact of the climate crisis on species and their habitats. In Austria, every second vertebrate is endangered. 59 percent of habitat types in Austria are threatened with complete destruction, critically endangered or threatened.
“Species extinction is far from getting enough political attention. While numerous events and international conferences are already taking place, it is still unclear if and when the 2022 Species Conservation Conference will be held. But the global mass extinction of animal and plant species is not coming to a halt. Politicians now need to work to enshrine strong species conservation goals while taking steps to ensure the goals are implemented in a binding manner,” Meus said.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
