Publication Date:
2024-04-09
Description:
Biodiversity loss is a major global challenge and minimizing extinction rates is the goal of
several multilateral environmental agreements. Policy decisions require comprehensive,
spatially explicit information on species’ distributions and threats. We present an analysis of
the conservation status of 14,669 European terrestrial, freshwater and marine species (ca.
10% of the continental fauna and flora), including all vertebrates and selected groups of
invertebrates and plants. Our results reveal that 19% of European species are threatened
with extinction, with higher extinction risks for plants (27%) and invertebrates (24%) compared to vertebrates (18%). These numbers exceed recent IPBES (Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) assumptions of extinction risk. Changes in
agricultural practices and associated habitat loss, overharvesting, pollution and development are major threats to biodiversity. Maintaining and restoring sustainable land and water
use practices is crucial to minimize future biodiversity declines.
Repository Name:
National Museum of Natural History, Netherlands
Type:
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Format:
application/pdf
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