State of Nature report - RSPB

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DRIVERS OF CHANGE ature is in a state of flux in the UK: there have been rapid changes in the status of our flora and fauna, driven by changes in the way we manage our land and seas. Here we highlight some of the factors that have had the greatest impacts, both good and bad, on our environment. Most factors affect some species positively and others negatively, but on balance, the overall effect will usually be skewed in one direction. For example, improving water quality benefits the majority of species, but is detrimental to those that are adapted to nutrient-rich or polluted conditions. The pressures on the UK’s nature have grown, but conservationists have risen to the challenge. Conservation no longer involves just “protection”, but also habitat creation and restoration, species reintroductions and translocations, and campaigning for better policies and legislation. As ever, the massive task of saving nature is hampered by a lack of resources. Following massive losses in the 20th century, only fragmented pieces of semi-natural grassland and heathland remain. Development, poor management and disturbance still threaten these fragments of habitat, and wildlife here is isolated and vulnerable. To prevent the loss of farmland, development has often been concentrated within urban areas, resulting in the loss of green spaces and brownfield sites that act as refuges for wildlife. For many people, urban wildlife provides their only contact with nature: without it, how can we expect them to care about its survival? Overfishing in the north-east Atlantic has depleted many fish stocks, damaged food chains and had knock-on effects on other biodiversity. Vast swathes of UK wetlands have been lost in the past, however the extent of lowland water bodies has increased significantly in recent years, due mainly to the restoration of mineral workings. Although many rivers and other freshwater bodies remain polluted, water quality has improved over recent decades as a result of work to address acidification, organochlorines and sewage discharges. 76 STATE OF NATURE 2013
Climate change Climate change is already affecting UK wildlife in a number of ways, particularly in marine and upland environments. In the future, the changing climate is expected to become an ever more dominant driver of change. Although some species will benefit, the overall impact is likely to be negative. How negative depends on how successful we are at reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Afforestation Tree cover has doubled in the UK since the Second World War. However, much of this consists of conifer plantations of limited benefit to wildlife. Some generalist woodland species have benefitted from increased tree cover, but a lack of active management has resulted in homogenous woodland structure unsuitable for more specialist species. Illegal persecution Wildlife crime remains an issue. The freshwater pearl mussel is threatened by illegal collection, the illegal removal of plants such as orchids continues and hen harriers and other raptors are killed throughout the UK due to perceived conflicts with game hunting interests. Andy Hay Andy Hay Mark Hamblin Richard Revels Agricultural intensification The intensification of farming has had far-reaching and ongoing impacts on wildlife. The loss of meadows, hedgerows and ponds, the increased use of pesticides, the abandonment of mixed farming, changes in cropping and the intensification of pastoral farming have all had a significant impact. However, if properly designed and funded, agri-environment schemes give farmers the opportunity to help our farmland nature to recover. Upland management Intensive management has damaged our uplands in many ways. Bogs and mires have been drained and habitat damaged by intensive burning for managed grouse populations. Overstocking has led to heavy grazing pressure and negative impacts on wildlife. Invasive non-native species The rate at which non-native species are arriving and establishing in the UK is increasing across habitats. We cannot predict accurately which of these might damage native species and habitats, but some will. The introduction of new plant and animal diseases is just one threat posed by non-native species movements, which could have serious implications for UK nature. STATE OF NATURE 2013 77
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STATE OF NATURE Foreword by Sir Dav
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UPLAND STATE OF NATURE 2013 29
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Although robust data are in short s
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ought species back from the brink o
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Wasps (175) All (5%) Moths (676) La
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MEASURING THE STATE OF NATURE Measu
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Although the evidence for the wides
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FARMLAND Farmland makes up around 7
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Why is farmland wildlife changing?
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Brown hares have benefited from hab
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lowland semi-natural grassland and
Page 25 and 26: Why is lowland semi-natural grassla
Page 27 and 28: Common lizard Steve Knell All six o
Page 29 and 30: UPLAND The UK’s uplands are the h
Page 31 and 32: o single factor is responsible for
Page 33 and 34: Golden eagles and other animals are
Page 35 and 36: WOODLAND Much of Britain was once c
Page 37 and 38: Why is woodland wildlife changing?
Page 39 and 40: Increased grazing pressure from dee
Page 41 and 42: COASTAL Wrapped in a narrow ribbon
Page 43 and 44: Why is coastal wildlife changing? T
Page 45 and 46: Genevieve Leaper Sea thrift on a cl
Page 47 and 48: FRESHWATER AND WETLANDS Freshwater
Page 49 and 50: Why is freshwater and wetland wildl
Page 51 and 52: Common frog Mark Sisson Freshwater
Page 53 and 54: URBAN There are many different ways
Page 55 and 56: Why is urban wildlife changing? A s
Page 57 and 58: The renovation or demolition of old
Page 59 and 60: URBAN Derelict, disused and unloved
Page 61 and 62: MARINE he UK is truly a maritime na
Page 63 and 64: hanges in the temperature, circulat
Page 65 and 66: Harbour seals have declined by near
Page 67 and 68: UK OVERSEAS TERRITORIES The UK has
Page 69 and 70: Just one individual of St Helena’
Page 71 and 72: EXTINCTIONS AND COLONISATIONS You w
Page 73 and 74: Little egret Ernie Janes The little
Page 75: CONSERVATION HEROES Picture the sce
Page 79 and 80: A: In some datasets, both total cha
Page 81 and 82: Watchlist indicator Between 1995 an
Page 83 and 84: 11: Fuller RM (1987) Biological Con
Page 85 and 86: in urban area: implications for nat
Page 87 and 88: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Acknowledgements T
Page 89 and 90: Conchological Society of Great Brit
Page 92: The State of Nature report is a col
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State of Nature report - RSPB

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