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The number of species in the Netherlands

There are over 35 000 species of plants and animals in the Netherlands. Some have international significance.

Estimated number of species in the Netherlands
  No. species Of major international significance Of international significance
  No. Species
Animals 24.443 135 56
 Of which insects 17.455 18 14
Plants >10.306 2 129
 
Total no. of plants & animals >34.749 137 185
Source: NNM, EC-LNV CBS/NC/okt02

Number of species


Some 24 500 animal species and over 10 000 plant species occur in the Netherlands. The largest group of animals are the insects, with species of beetles, flies, mosquitoes, bees, wasps and ants being particularly numerous. Nematode, mite and crustacean species are also numerous, but the well-known species groups like birds and mammals have far fewer species. Fungi (including microfungi) are the most important group of plants, but there are also very many green algae and seed plants (Spermatophyta). Certain species groups also contain many exotics in addition to the native (i.e. endemic) species.

International significance


Many of the animal species - particularly the birds - occurring in the Netherlands are of international significance. Through these species, therefore, the Netherlands contributes importantly to international biodiversity. Many of the mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and higher plants also have international significance. It is striking that the biggest species group in the Netherlands, the insects, contains few species of international significance. The reason is that little is known about the international significance of this species group; the same is true for many other species groups.

  • Species occurring in the Birds Directive (Annex I), Habitats Directives (Annexes II and IV) or the IUCN Red List;
  • Species whose numbers in the Netherlands represent 25% or more of the world population.
  • Animal or plant species whose numbers in the Netherlands represent 10-25% of the world population.
  • Animal species restricted to Europe and northern Asia (West Palearctic) and (if at least 10% of their distribution area is in western Europe) having the Netherlands at the centre of their distribution area, or (if at least 10% of their distribution area is in western Europe) having the Netherlands near the centre of their distribution area, or (if at least 25% of their distribution area is in western Europe) having the Netherlands at the edge of their distribution area.
  • Plant species restricted to Europe and having the Netherlands at the centre or near the centre of their distribution area.

Technical note


The numbers of native and exotic species are based on Van Nieukerken & Van Loon (1995) and on Biobase (2003). The discrepancy between the figures in these sources is to do with whether they include recently established exotics, incidental visitors, sporadic sightings, and suchlike. In many cases the figures for the lower plants and animals are based on estimates.

Species that have gone extinct in the Netherlands have been included in the figures, but have not been included in the number of species of international significance.

The criteria used to determine whether a species is of international significance were: inclusion in the EU Habitats or Birds Directive or in the IUCN Red List for Europe, or if the Netherlands has an important place in the area of distribution of a species. The information is from the Handboek Natuurdoeltypen (2002). Two groups of species were distinguished:



The gaps in the table indicate species groups whose international significance has not been considered. For some groups, only the number of species according to the IUCN Red List and the Habitats Directive has been shown, and the area of distribution has been ignored.

References


  • Bal, D., H.M. Beije, M. Fellinger, R. Haveman, A.J.F.M. van Opstal en F.J. van Zadelhoff (2002). Handboek Natuurdoeltypen. Expertisecentrum LNV. Wageningen.
  • CBS (1997). Biobase. Register biodiversiteit. CBS. Voorburg/Heerlen.
  • Nieukerken, E.J. van en J. van Loon (1995). Biodiversiteit in Nederland. Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum. Leiden.

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This page was last changed on 01 June 2004  (version 01).