BIODIVERSITY INDICATORS UPDATE

Defra have published a revision of the Biodiversity Indicators. For everyone interested in the state of biodiversity in the UK (well for everyone whether interested or not, actually), it is an important document to examine. This is an ongoing process under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the next update is expected to be published in 2023.

The indicators are based on a traffic light system, whereby a tick on a green background indicates an improving situation, a cross on a red background is for deterioration, an equals sign on an amber background for little or no change and an ellipsis on a white background for insufficient data. You can access and download the whole booklet at https://bit.ly/UKBIOIND.

Whilst there is insufficient information on awareness, understanding and support for Nature Conservation generally, volunteer nature work, sustainability in agriculture and forestry, and air & marine pollution are considered to be improving. The situation on invasive species, though, and that of European species and habitats, is deteriorating, as is that of farmland, woodland and wetland birds, specialist habitat butterflies, and pollinating insects. There are many data and much information in the booklet and it is worthy of careful study. 

I have spoken about birds previously and the decline of once common species such as greenfinches, house sparrows, yellowhammers, song thrushes, spotted flycatchers and many others is truly alarming.

So many species common in my youth, whether it be glow-worms, hares, turtle doves, or silver washed fritillaries, I now seldom if ever see. It is good to see Defra monitoring the situation but we need to do so much more to stop the losses, restore the habitats and curb the destruction of green spaces.