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Biodiversity: The UK says it won’t publish wildlife and habitat data in 2022

Subsequent yr will see an necessary assembly to agree international biodiversity targets, however the UK says it will not be publishing key information on wildlife and habitats

Life



28 October 2021

Lulworth skipper butterfly

Male Lulworth skipper (Thymelicus acteon) in Dorset, UK

Oliver Sensible/Alamy

Conservationists have criticised the UK authorities for its choice to quickly halt publishing new information on the state of the nation’s wildlife and habitats, on the identical yr as a landmark UN biodiversity summit.

Figures revealed as we speak by the Division for Meals, Rural Affairs and Setting (Defra) present a deteriorating image for habitats, in addition to for precedence species similar to otters and crimson squirrels, woodland birds, and butterflies reliant on particular habitats, such because the Lulworth skipper (Thymelicus motion), pictured above.

The UK, like many different nations, has did not arrest declines in biodiversity lately regardless of signing as much as international targets to guard nature. In April 2022, nations are anticipated to resume their dedication to behave, by agreeing new biodiversity targets for 2030 on the COP15 summit in Kunming, China.

Nevertheless, Defra mentioned that it’s going to “pause” publishing new information on the state of UK biodiversity in 2022, to allow a “thorough assessment” of the symptoms, such because the pressures from invasive species or the well being of chook populations and different animals.

Mark Avery, a conservationist and former director of the  Royal Society for the Safety of Birds, says: “It looks as if Defra’s response to a biodiversity disaster is to cease publishing the info that present it’s taking place. That’s not superb, is it?”

Key indicators on birds, butterflies, precedence species and habitats present the image is getting worse. For instance, a measure of farmland chook populations derived from 2019 information is down 45 per cent from its 1970 worth, with smaller decreases seen for different birds. Different measures, such because the time volunteers spend on conservation actions, have risen, with a 61 per cent enhance between 2000 and 2019.

New Scientist has contacted Defra for a response.

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