Guidance Threats of species and biodiversity

Index Threats of species and biodiversity

• Number of endangered species
• Areas with rare plants

Introduction

Humans have caused many plant and animal species to go extinct in the Netherlands or become endangered. The endangered species have been put on the Red Lists. The greatly endangered species include the tawny pipit and the cranberry fritillary. Certain areas harbour more endangered species than others.

The important factors in the decline of plant and animal species used to be hunting, poaching, collecting and persecution. For example, at the beginning of the 20^th century the sandwich tern almost disappeared from the Netherlands because it was killed for its plumage, which was used in the millinery trade.

Today, the loss of natural area and the decline of quality caused by eutrophication, acidification, water draw down and fragmentation are important factors for the decline of plant- and animal species.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• Butterflies: heathland and raised bog are losing their open character
• The Sandwich tern and organochlorine compounds
• The tawny pipit and active dunes