Surfbirds News

Of particular concern is the state of wildlife in north-west Europe – known as the Atlantic biogeographical region - including the UK.

Stretching from northern Portugal to western Denmark, an average of just over 10 per cent of threatened habitats in the Atlantic region are in 'favourable condition'. For the UK, only six per cent of threatened habitats and only 23 per cent of threatened species were reportedly in 'favourable condition'.

As only three per cent of threatened habitats in the UK were not assessed, a staggering 91 per cent of threatened habitats in the UK are in unfavourable condition and therefore not supporting the range of wildlife they should.

The report, published by the European Union – which focuses on threatened habitats and species protected under the EU Habitats Directive - highlights that the vast majority of the continent's most important species remains in serious danger. The information was provided by the governments of member states.

Despite some improvements thanks to special nature conservation efforts, the report points at what many have expected before: the EU is very likely to miss its 2010 target of halting the loss of biodiversity. Especially farmland, wetland and coastal habitats are in trouble, and less than one fifth (17 per cent) of the EU's most important species and habitats are in good shape.

"'The statistic that more than nine out of ten of threatened habitats in the UK are not in favourable condition is shocking and is a reminder that the government has to abide by its duty under European law to improve the fortunes for our special and threatened wildlife." stated Dr Avery.

Dartford Warbler © Andy Bright, from the surfbirds galleries

The Article 17 report indicates that only one of the UK's 14 grassland and heathland habitats on the directive are in favourable condition.

Three-quarters of our heathland gone

The UK has lost approximately three quarters of its former lowland heathland to forestry, agriculture, urban development and abandonment. In the UK, lowland heathland now only covers an area a third the size of Dorset, a shadow of its former extent. Even after these losses, the UK still has around one fifth of the world's lowland heathland.

Dr Mark Avery added: 'What lowland heathland is left is often in small patches, which are at risk from threats like scrub encroachment, agriculture, fires and disturbance to the wildlife. Managing these remnants sympathetically alongside the recreation of bigger sites reduces these threats and makes it easier to stop the rot.'

The report said that the habitats associated with farming are in particularly poor condition compared to others (seven per cent compared to 21 per cent being in favourable status respectively), with grasslands suffering most from intensification or abandonment.

Commenting on the overall findings of the report, the RSPB and BirdLife see it as 'scandalous' that 17 years after adoption of the EU Habitats Directive a number of Member States still claim not to know the status of their most important animal and plant species. On this, the Commission report especially blames Cyprus, Greece, Spain and Portugal who indicated 'unknown' for more than half of their species. BirdLife urges the Commission to take firm action so that these and other governments invest more in monitoring of nature and wildlife.

Of the nine countries with territory within the Atlantic biogeographical region, Germany with 29 per cent has the largest extent of threatened habitats in favourable condition. Germany is followed by Portugal (21 per cent); Denmark (19 per cent); Netherlands (eight per cent); Ireland (six per cent); UK (six per cent); Belgium (four per cent) and France (three per cent). No comparative data exists for Spain, which didn't report all of its statistics.