Wildlife time bomb: birds and plants set to vanish

ALMOST 100 bird species and 120 types of plant face extinction unless urgent action is taken to stop the decline of Ireland’s wildlife, the National Heritage Council has warned.

Pollution, pesticides, household and industrial chemicals, intensive farming and the loss of natural habitats such as hedgerows, natural grasslands and wetlands are threatening the future of many animals and plants.

The council said the Government, local authorities, farmers, industry and the public needed to make rapid changes to halt the decline.