By Helen BriggsBBC News
5 March 2018
The loss of trees across Europe is pushing
beetles to the brink of extinction, according to a new report.
The International Union for the Conservation
of Nature assessed the status of 700 European beetles that live in old and
hollowed wood.
Almost a fifth (18%) are at risk of
extinction due to the decline of ancient trees, the European Red List of
Saproxylic Beetles report found.
This puts them among the most threatened
insect groups in Europe.
Saproxylic beetles play a role in natural
processes, such as decomposition and the recycling of nutrients.
They also provide an important food source
for birds and mammals and some are involved in pollination.
"Some beetle species require old trees
that need hundreds of years to grow, so conservation efforts need to focus on long-term
strategies to protect old trees across different landscapes in Europe, to
ensure that the vital ecosystem services provided by these beetles
continue," said Jane Smart, director of the IUCN Global Species Programme.
Logging, tree loss and wood harvesting all
contribute to the loss of habitat for the beetles, said the IUCN. Other major
threats include urbanisation and tourism development, and an increase in
wildfires in the Mediterranean region.
Conservation efforts need to focus on
long-term strategies to protect old trees and deadwood across forests,
pastureland, orchards and urban areas, the report recommended.
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