Study shows 23% of Europe’s amphibians under threat
The first European Red Lists of threatened species for the two groups of species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) shows 23% of amphibians and 21% of reptiles are at risk of dying out.
Most of the pressure the species in danger face comes from human destruction of their habitat, climate change, pollution and the presence of invasive species.
The studies, released on International Biodiversity Day, also show that more than half of frog, toad, salamander and newt species (59%) in Europe are suffering declines in their populations.
And 42% of reptiles are in decline, the IUCN said.
The reports on the status of amphibians and reptiles show they are more at risk of extinction than European birds and mammals.
Dr Helen Temple, programme officer for the IUCN Red List unit, said: “Natural habitats across Europe are being squeezed by growing human populations, agricultural sprawl and pollution.
“That is not good news for either amphibians or reptiles.”
Stavros Dimas, European commissioner for the environment, said: “Despite strong legislation protecting our habitats and most of the species concerned, almost a quarter of Europe’s amphibians are now under threat.
“This reflects the enormous pressure we are placing on Europe’s plants and animals, and underlines the need to rethink our relation to the natural world.”
He urged citizens, politicians and business leaders to take wildlife into account in the decisions they made.
Europe has 151 species of reptiles and 85 species of amphibians, many of which are only found on this continent. Two amphibian species are listed as critically endangered in the European Red List, the Karpathos frog and the Montseny brook newt – Spain’s only endemic newt – while five are endangered and 11 are vulnerable to extinction. There are six reptiles classified as critically endangered, 11 are endangered and 10 are vulnerable.
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