A new research report accentuates the immediate need for comprehensive ecological restoration laws. The study points out that since 1994, the number of bird species facing global risks has tripled. Although conservation measures have improved the status of some species, the findings underscore that European Union member states must enhance their efforts to mitigate the decline in endangered bird populations. This is especially pertinent given the ongoing political contention and opposition to such measures.
Close to 40% of Europe’s bird species are currently classified as requiring conservation, and 14% are deemed to be globally at risk, according to the study’s authors. They conclude that the state of nature in Europe is critically compromised.
This research was published in the scholarly journal Bird Conservation International, which is disseminated by Cambridge University Press on behalf of BirdLife International.
The study follows the contentious approval by the European Parliament of the Nature Restoration Law and the EU Green Deal, which legally mandate the 27 EU nations to take measures for environmental restoration both on land and in marine ecosystems. BirdLife International noted a significant misinformation campaign aimed at undermining the law, orchestrated by politicians with conservative and right-wing ideologies, as well as agricultural and fisheries interest groups. Although the law narrowly passed the European Parliament, the draft legislation will not establish new protected zones within the EU.
In light of these developments, the report accentuates the immediate necessity for adopting extensive restoration laws and delineates key priorities that could steer national restoration schemes aimed at arresting the decline in endangered avian species, which include birds of farmlands and steppes, waterfowl, raptors, seabirds, and long-distance migratory birds.
BirdLife International has previously published three assessments on the population health of naturally occurring bird species in Europe in 1994, 2004, and 2017. In the most recent 2023 assessment, out of 546 species evaluated, 207 (38%) are classified as Species of European Conservation Concern (SPECs).
The proportion of species facing global risks has increased threefold, from 5% (24 species) in 1994 to 14% (74 species) in 2023. The researchers argue that these figures indicate a rise and intensification of threats, mentioning that iconic species like the Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) and the European Turtle-dove (Streptopelia turtur) have recently been categorized as globally endangered.
The overall ratio of SPECs has remained relatively consistent across all four assessments, ranging from 38% to 43%. These SPECs are distributed across Europe, implicating every country in their conservation. Certain regions, such as parts of Iberia, Turkey, the Caucasus, and European Russia, along with various coastal zones, have been identified as conservation ‘hotspots.’
The authors unequivocally state that Europe’s natural ecosystems are in a critical condition. A considerable number of habitat-specialist species are seeing a deterioration in their status, underlining the significance of habitat restoration. While Europe still hosts between 3.4 and 5.4 billion breeding birds, more aggressive action is required at a large scale and rapid pace to halt and reverse this negative trend, in order to meet both regional and global conservation objectives.
Species that have witnessed an improvement in their status include several large waterbirds and raptors, vindicating the beneficial effects of the application of EU environmental legislation.
Reference: “Birds in Europe 4: the fourth assessment of Species of European Conservation Concern” by Ian J. Burfield, Claire A. Rutherford, Eresha Fernando, Hannah Grice, Alexa Piggott, Rob W. Martin, Mark Balman, Michael I. Evans, and Anna Staneva, published on 30 June 2023 in Bird Conservation International.
DOI: 10.1017/S0959270923000187
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ecological Restoration in Europe
What is the main finding of the recent study on Europe’s bird species?
The main finding of the study is that the number of bird species of global concern in Europe has tripled since 1994. Nearly 40% of Europe’s bird species are now of conservation concern, and 14% are considered to be of
