A major report has revealed that 16% of assessed species in Great Britain, including iconic animals like the turtle dove and hazel dormouse, are threatened with extinction. The State of Nature report, compiled by over 60 organisations, found that out of 10,000 mammals, plants, insects, birds, and amphibians assessed, nearly 1,500 native species are now at risk.
The report highlights a continued decline in the UK's wildlife, with monitored species decreasing in abundance by an average of 19% since the 1970s. Conservation organisations warn that nature loss is outpacing efforts to tackle it, calling for more investment and a shift towards wildlife-friendly farming and fishing.
Nida al-Fulaij from the People's Trust for Endangered Species described the findings as alarming. The report also notes that most important habitats, including woodlands and wetlands, are in poor condition, and only about 11% of UK land is within protected areas, with many not well managed for nature.
Beccy Speight, chief executive of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), urged society to move faster towards nature-friendly land and sea use, warning that failure to act will lead to continued decline with huge implications for the UK's way of life. The government has responded by highlighting its Environmental Improvement Plan and the '30-by-30' pledge to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030.
However, Professor Richard Gregory, RSPB conservation-science head, stated that billions, not millions, of pounds are needed to achieve these goals. He emphasised that such investment would return huge benefits for society and prevent future costs from environmental degradation. The report also found that none of the seafloor around the UK is in good condition due to damage from fishing gear.
