Evaluating impact on rare species' behaviour

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Scope

Does the option affect protected or endangered species or their habitats or ecologically sensitive areas?

Definition

The loss in biodiversity has been attributed to habitat loss and fragmentation of the natural landscapes. When discussing the causes of endangerment of species, it is important to understand that endangerment is a broad issue, one that involves the habitats and environments where species live and interact with one another. Although some measures are being taken to help specific cases of endangerment, the universal problem cannot be solved until humans protect the natural environments where endangered species dwell.

There are many reasons why a particular species may become endangered and how it could be affected by new policies. Habitat destruction, introduction of exotic species and overexploitation are the most common reasons endangering the survival of special species.

Natural changes tend to occur at a gradual pace, usually causing only a slight impact on individual species. However, when changes occur at a fast pace, there is little or no time for individual species to react and adjust to new circumstances. This can create disastrous results, and for this reason, rapid habitat loss is the primary cause of species endangerment. The strongest forces in rapid habitat loss are human beings. Nearly every region of the earth has been affected by human activity, particularly during this past century. The loss of microbes in soils that formerly supported tropical forests, the extinction of fish and various aquatic species in polluted habitats, and changes in global climate brought about by the release of greenhouse gases are all results of human activity.

Result

Indicators:

The following Eurostat Structural Indicators are relevant to address the key question:

It is difficult to find indicators that demonstrate the effect on endangered species or their habitats or ecologically sensitive areas. A strong influence on endangered species, their habitats or ecologically sensitive areas is exerted by the amount of protected areas addressed by the Structural Indicator below:

• Sufficiency of sites designated under the EU Habitats Directive

The following Eurostat Sustainable Development Indicators are relevant to address the key question:

A lot of Europe´s wild farmland birds are endangered. As population trends of wild birds reveal, the number of farmland bird species has crashed across Europe by more than 30 per cent since 1980. Tree defoliation affects endangered species as well as other species depending on the damaged trees. Relevant indicators which are covered by Eurostat data are:

• Common bird index
• Percentage of forest trees damaged by defoliation

Through catches outside biological limits fish species get endangered and the number of survivable species decreases. Therefore the following Sustainable Development Indicator might provide a hint on this subject:

• Fish catches from stocks outside 'safe biological limits'

Additional Links:

European Environment Agency Indicators

EEA Biodiversity Indicators

• Change in area and use of grasslands
• Pressures on grasslands (lowland and mountain areas)
• Protection of grasslands
• Species in dry grasslands

See also

IA TOOLS

References

This text is for information only and is not designed to interpret or replace any reference documents.