A fifth of Europe’s most endangered species could be driven to extinction by agriculture, warns a study published this Wednesday.
The study, carried out by scientists from the National Museum of Natural History in Luxembourg and published in the journal PLOS ONE, analyzed 14,669 species included in the Red List of Threatened Plant and Animal Species in Europe and concluded that 19% of They are endangered, equivalent to 27% of plants, 24% of invertebrates and 18% of vertebrates.
The analysis shows that changes in agricultural land use are one of the main threats to European biodiversity, leading to loss of natural habitats and overexploitation of biological resources. Pollution, residential and commercial development are considered risk factors.
The published study also shows that the number of invertebrates at risk exceeds recent estimates from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), an international organization with dozens of member countries.
The European Red List species analyzed represent about 10% of all animals and plants living in terrestrial, freshwater or marine environments in Europe.
“This comprehensive analysis of 14,669 assessments of European animal and plant species on the European Red List shows that two million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction. This result is double the latest IPBES assumption,” the researchers warn.
The study’s authors state that biodiversity is important for food security, wealth creation and the future well-being of European citizens, keeping in mind the importance of its conservation.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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