Attenborough warning

Broadcaster’s plea as study finds native species close to extinction

ALERT: Sir David Attenborough has raised concerns about a sharp decline in some of Scotland’s native species

SIR David Attenborough has warned of a worrying decline in Scotland’s native species as the environment comes under increasing pressure from development.

The veteran broadcaster spoke out ahead of the publication of a groundbreaking report on the current condition of the UK’s wild animals, birds and plants.

The State of Nature study, compiled by 25 leading conservation and research organisations including The Wildlife Trusts, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Marine Conservation Society, is released today.

It says some of the country’s best-known wildlife is on the brink of extinction dueto climate change, ongoing loss of habitat, and more intensive farming techniques.

Sir David said: “Scotland contains some of the finest landscapes and wildlife spectacles found in the British Isles – but today it is in need of our help more than ever.

“From the wonders of the Cairngorms to the Hebridean beaches and flower-filled machair meadows, we must invest and take immense care in how we steward these stunning places if they are to survive.”

According to the study, five out of every 12 seabird species nesting in Scotland are in decline as rising sea temperatures hit marine ecosystems.

Numbers of Scotland’s wildflowers have also fallen by half in recent years, with vulnerable species such as the Irish lady’s tresses orchid, found on wet machair areas, under threat from changing agricultural practices.

The Scottish wildcat, long known to be just hanging on, may now be extinct east of the Great Glen. There could fewer than a hundred in the north-west.

HOW OUR NATIVE SPECIES FARE

Sir David added: “This report shows that our species are in trouble, with many declining at a worrying rate. However, we have in this country a network of passionate conservation groups supported by millions of people who love wildlife.

“The exper ts have come together today to highlight the amazing nature we have around us and to ensure that it remains here for generations to come.”

The report collates information gathered by the different conservation groups working in Scotland and the rest of the UK to provide a comprehensive picture of pressures on the wild environment.

Another factor affecting native species is the presence of foreign animals and plants, such a signal crayfish, grey squirrels and rhododendrons.

While tree cover has increased in the last 60 years, much of the growth has been among nonnative varieties on commercial plantations, which does little for Scotland’s wildlife. More than a tenth of Scotland is covered in non-native plantation forest.

Dr Maggie Keegan, Head of Policy and Planning for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said the report would help co-ordinate conservationists to direct their efforts to the areas of most need.

She said: “This nature check-up demonstrates just how precarious the future may be for some of Scotland’s wildlife … this report shows that to do so we all need to step up our efforts, be more co-ordinated and deliver more by ensuring we deliver multiple benefits for all across Scotland’s land and seas.”

Dr Mark Eaton, a lead author on the report, pointed out that it results largely from the efforts of volunteers. “Our knowledge of nature in the UK would be significantly poorer without these unsung heroes, and that knowledge is the most essential tool that conservationists have,” he said.