House Sparrows to join endangered list

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Hedgehogs and house sparrows have been included on an updated list of

species and habitats which need protection.

The new Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) has identified 1,149 species

and 65 habitats in the UK as being in need of conservation and

greater protection.

 

When the action plan was launched in 1997, it listed 577 species -

half the number included in the updated version.

 

Wildlife experts said this was a result of wider research and not

necessarily down to more habitat being destroyed.

 

Other animals added to the list for the first time include the grass

snake and the garden tiger moth; while otters, bottlenose dolphins

and red squirrels are deemed to remain in need of habitat protection.

 

BAP PRIORITY SPECIES

Birds - 59 species

Fish (freshwater) - 14 species

Herptiles - 10 species

Lower plants and fungi - 337 species

Marine fauna and flora - 88 species

Invertebrates - 411 species

Terrestrial mammals - 18 species

Vascular plants - 212 species

(Source: UK Biodiversity Action Plan 2007)

 

But the latest BAP shows that a number of species have benefited from

being featured on the original list 10 years ago. The numbers of

ladybird spiders and lady's slipper orchids are at a 50-year high.

 

The BAP is considered to be one of the most authoritative reference

sources for the state of the UK's wildlife.

 

The result of more than two years of research by more than 500

wildlife experts and a large number of volunteers, it brings together

key scientific data on all the listed species in one document.

 

As well as outlining the state of British species, it also

contributes to global conservation commitments, outlined in the UN's

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

 

Biodiversity Minister Joan Ruddock said the updated action plan would

help shape the government's conservation policy.

 

" Conserving biodiversity is essential if we are to pass on a healthy

environment to the next generation, " Ms Ruddock said.

 

" The new list will help us target our resources and efforts where

they are needed, and demonstrates our commitment to publish new

priorities, targets and plans for halting biodiversity loss by 2010. "

 

'Cause for alarm'

 

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said that as

well as the house sparrow, the starling was another familiar garden

bird to feature on the BAP list of 59 bird species.

 

" The fact that the bird list now includes more than a fifth of all

the UK's regularly occurring birds is a cause for alarm, " said Mark

Avery, the RSPB's conservation director.

 

" We will have to act fast if we are to meet obligations of halting

the loss of biodiversity by 2010. "

 

But Dr Avery added that the BAP had focused efforts on stemming the

decline in a number of vulnerable species.

 

" To its credit, we have seen dramatic increases in key species, like

bittern, stone-curlew, corncrake, nightjar, cirl bunting and

woodlark. "

 

A separate study, also published on Tuesday, also highlighted the

decline in the UK's hedgehog population.

 

The study by the University of London for the People's Trust for

Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society

listed tidier gardens and urbanisation as key factors affecting the

fall in the number of the small mammals.

 

Nigel Bourne, chairman of the Wildlife and Countryside Link's

biodiversity working group, welcomed the updated list and called it

a " major boost " .

 

" The list will focus efforts on the real, shared conservation

priorities in the UK.

 

" The conservation charities that make up Link... look forward to

continuing to work in partnership with the government, " Dr Bourne

added.

 

" Together we can turn the list into targeted action to deliver the

conservation of our very special habitats and species. "