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Scientists have revealed that up to two million species of plants and animals are now threatened with extinction worldwide.
The study, led by Dr Axel Horschkirch from the Luxembourg National Museum of Natural History, found that twice as many species were at risk than previously estimated.
An analysis of 14,669 species, representing about 10 percent of Europe’s biodiversity, concluded that a fifth of European species are at risk.
The list includes many animals such as Blue Wale, Angelshark, European Mink and La Gomera Giant Lizard.
Meanwhile, many plants are also at risk of extinction, from the beautiful Aster des Pyrenees to the towering Spanish spruce.
A fifth of all European species are at risk of extinction, meaning animals like the endangered La Gomera giant lizard may not be around for much longer.
Biodiversity in Europe is under threat from a number of sources, but the Mediterranean and Alpine regions maintain the highest densities of different species.
The study found that invertebrates – a diverse group that includes insects, bivalves and cephalopods – were more vulnerable than previous estimates had indicated.
Dr Horschkirch says changing agricultural land use, including tree plantations, now poses the biggest threat to Europe’s flora and fauna.
Of the species assessed, 2,389 are classified as threatened with extinction by the IUCN Red List, the most comprehensive source of conservation information.
This includes 18 percent of vertebrates, 24 percent of invertebrates, and 27 percent of plants.
These results more than double previous estimates that indicated that only 10% of invertebrates are threatened with extinction.
The study notes that vertebrates, the group that includes birds, mammals, fish and reptiles, have received “much greater conservation attention.”
Dr Hochkirch told MailOnline that more action was needed to protect invertebrate species.
“We need more conservation efforts to conserve insect species. For critically threatened species, we need to develop and implement conservation action plans,” he said.
“The conservation success of many previously threatened vertebrate species shows that conservation works – but it must be done.”
Invertebrates like this blue-eyed golden-ring are more vulnerable than previous estimates thought, with nearly a quarter of invertebrate species threatened with extinction.
This chart shows how different threats affect Red List species, and agriculture remains the biggest threat to biodiversity for most species
The study found that the biggest threats to biodiversity in Europe were changes in agricultural land use, but warned that stopping farming could harm biodiversity further.
The species has been threatened by the conversion of natural lands into agricultural lands and the intensification of agricultural practices, as well as by the abandonment of agricultural lands.
The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) favors larger farms while excluding smaller companies.
“Smallholder agriculture is declining, leading to the abandonment of marginal lands, which are often particularly species-rich and dependent on widespread agricultural land use,” the report authors wrote.
Many species require the specific conditions of viable farmland, meaning that the decline of smallholdings has already contributed to species being at risk.
It is also noted that many threatened species are adapted to grasslands that can only be maintained by livestock grazing or mowing.
Dr Hochkirch told MailOnline that working with farmers is the best way to protect endangered species in Europe.
“If we promote smallholder agriculture better, we will restore greater land-use diversity in Europe, and this will benefit many species and farmers,” he said.
“If we created larger exclusion zones in marine areas, this would help recover fish populations and make the fishery sustainable.”
This study comes amid growing concerns about the impact of human activities on the world’s biodiversity.
Saltwater and freshwater environments are also under threat, but researchers say responsible fishing practices could benefit the animals and the fishing industry.
Last month, the US Fish and Wildlife Service announced that 21 species are now officially considered extinct, including 10 birds and two freshwater fish.
The government body described the announcement as a “wake-up call” to the damage caused by human activity.
Likewise, recent studies have indicated that humanity may miss out on half of future medicines due to the extinction of many plants.
Scientists estimate that 45% of flowering plants worldwide are threatened with extinction, putting a valuable source of future medicines at risk of being lost.
Dr. Hochkirch and his co-authors also emphasize the importance of biodiversity to human health and economic success.
“Biodiversity underpins food security, human well-being and wealth generation,” they wrote.
(Tags for translation) Daily Mail