Nature News
One in six European mammals face extinction, new study claims
May 22, 2007, 13:50 GMT
Gland, Switzerland - One in six European mammals face extinction while a quarter suffer from declining populations, according to a study published Tuesday by the European Commission and the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
Just eight per cent of mammals had increasing populations, including the European bison which along with the Alpine Ibex, had been brought back from the brink of extinction.
Europe is home to the world's most threatened cat species, the Iberian lynx and the world's most threatened seal, the Mediterranean Monk seal. Both are classified as critically endangered.
'The results of the report highlight the challenge we currently face to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010, as European governments have promised,' said European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas.
'It is clear that the full implementation of the Habitats Directive, which covers nearly all mammals found threatened in this assessment, is of utmost importance to protect Europe's species.'
IUCN Director-General Julia Marton-Lefèvre said: 'This new assessment proves that many European mammals are declining at an alarming rate. However, we still have the power to reverse that trend, as in the case of the European bison.'
For marine mammals the situation was even bleaker, according to the European Mammal Assessment, which found at least 22 per cent threatened with extinction.
Loss of natural habitat, pollution and over-harvesting were the main threats.
The Arctic fox and the European mink were among six species classified as 'critically endangered' in the European Union.
The study provides the first overall picture of the state of Europe's mammals. It showed that Europe's mountains were home to the greatest diversity of species from Spain to Greece, while the greatest concentration of threatened species was found in Bulgaria.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Oh dear, the yank moron has turned up here as well. Instead of boring people with your trite comments, why don't you do something useful - like counting how many of the american speciaes are being killed off ?
I don't see any reference to Tonney here? True, he's a socialistic, happy-kingdom tinfoil hat wearing automaton, but I just don't see what this article has to do with Tonney...
Actually, Sean, if you'd get off your ass and use this tool, you would see that the USA has:
* reforested 60% of the USA east of the Mississippi since your moronic ancestors sold it to us for chump change.
* Passed numerous species protection acts, all of which, admittedly, are of limited success, but still have had some positive effect.
* made huge concessions in accommodating species protection for species like the Spotted Owl, cost 10's of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in revenues, placing huge burdens on local communities throughout the pacific northwest.
* pioneered forest protections and environmental cleanup tech that is the leader the world over.
* protected numerous species on our soil, that are endangered the world over.
So, Sean, take another look. Next time, do a little research, and if you don't happen to like the USA go blow yourself.
Global Warming, species extinction, immigration problems, famine, etc.
It is all due to overpopulation people, and no half-measures will solve the problem. I don't care if you are European or American. We both have the sense to control our populations. You can't say that about Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Someone needs to explain to these knuckle-heads that if they don't quit having 4-8 kids per family that there won't be any wild animals left, animals to eat, or farmland to grow food on.
Quit worrying about the symptoms, species extinction-excess carbon in the atmosphere, until you address the root cause of all these problems, over-population.
DUH!!!
page: 1
1 in 6 huhMay 22nd, 2007 - 15:37:12
Yes it's true, Tonny from Belgium is boring them to death with fake facts he makes up on the spot.
This guy has got to be the worst anti-religion,anti-America,anti-anything except his narrow ,socialist,everyone needs to be just like me attitude.
Yes he is a waste of skin---an assclown extraordinaire.
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