One species becomes extinct in England every fortnight

England is losing a species every fortnight, according to the most detailed study of extinction rates over the last two centuries.

By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent
Published: 7:00AM BST 05 Oct 2010

Previous studies have concentrated on the historical loss of iconic species like the birds and animals.

But the Oxford University study looked at the extinction of lesser-known species like lichen, microbial slime and mosses.

It found that in the last two hundred years up to five per cent of the country’s 60,000 species are lost every year.

If this rate continues, it would mean 26 species are lost in England every year. In the UK as a whole it is an even higher rate of extinction of 40 species a year, or almost one a week.

The study also showed that birds are a good indicator of extinction rates as a whole. This could mean that studying the loss of birds would enable scientists to measure extinction rates in remote areas of the world.

A report of the research is published in an forthcoming issue of the journal Biological Conservation as United Nations countries prepare to meet in Japan 18-29 October to discuss new targets to protect wildlife. In March this year the British government's advisory body, Natural England, reported about 500 species lost from England since 1800.

Clive Hambler of Oxford University’s Department of Zoology, said the rate of extinction could be ten times higher.

“The losses reported by Natural England are under 0.5% per century, from England’s 55,000 species,” he said. “Our research suggests that the actual losses could be over ten times this number, with about one species going extinct in England every fortnight.

“Many ancient and important habitats in Britain are threatened today because of human activity and population growth – whether it’s an increase in water use, growing use of wood fuel, or the growth of urban sprawl. Despite conservationists' efforts it's very likely extinction rates will continue to rise in Britain and globally for many years. These losses will impact on human welfare, and I’d say conservation needs a profile and resources even bigger than climate change.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8041882/One-species-becomes-extinct-in-England-every-fortnight.html