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☆ One-fifth of Europe’s Red List species face risk of extinction, new analysis finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Of all 14,669 varieties of plants and animals found in Europe that were registered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species by the end of 2020, one-fifth of them face the risk of extinction, a new analysis has found. The thousands of species found in Europe that appear on the Red List account for nearly 10% of the continent’s total biodiversity, according to the paper. IPBES originally estimated that 1 million plant and animal species across the world were at risk of extinction, including about half a million insect varieties, based on inferences from Red List data. The data on invertebrates provided by the new analysis suggests the number of species threatened with extinction globally is actually closer to 2 million, Hochkirch said. Hochkirch said he hopes the analysis will spur further conservation action for insects and other threatened species in Europe.

Persons: ”, Axel Hochkirch, Hochkirch, Gerardo Ceballos, Ceballos, ” Ceballos, David Williams, ” Williams, Williams Organizations: CNN, International Union for Conservation, National Museum of, IUCN, of Ecology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Intergovernmental, Services, IPBES, University of Leeds, Agriculture Locations: Europe, Luxembourg

☆ From non-native bluegrass in Antarctica to beautiful spotted bugs in the middle of NYC, here are 5 invasive species that are as stunning as they are threatening to humanity
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Hilary Brueck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Here are 5 of the most obvious examples of how invasive species are impacting all of us right now. Scientists say invasive species are one of the top five drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide (alongside other environmental issues like pollution and climate change). The authors of the new UN report estimate that only about 6% of non-native plants and 11% of non-native microbes are invasive species. AdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, invasive species are an outsized driver of animal and plant extinctions, contributing to over half (60%) of them. Even Antarctica isn't safe from the threat of invaders like a non-native bluegrassPoa annua is an annual bluegrass species native to Eurasia.

Persons: Peter Stoett —, Stoett, we're, Gary Hershorn, Michael M, Joe Biden, Mandel Ngan, Melani Spielman, it's, Dan Kitwood, Wolfgang Kaehler, South America —, Kilian Fichou, Hu Weibin, Anibal Pauchard Organizations: UN, Service, United Nations, Ontario Tech University, Washington Post, Services, East, New, US Department of Agriculture, Getty, Cornell University, South America, Publishing, University of Concepción Locations: New York, Antarctica, New York City, China, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York , New Jersey , Michigan, Ohio, Inwood, Park, Maui, Marine, AFP, Waimea Valley, Africa, Hawaii, Somoria, Guinea, South America, Brazil, Kenya, Bangladesh, Florida, South, Europe, Lakes, Lake Ontario, Canada, Great, North America, Michigan, Eurasia, Chile

☆ Invasive species cost the world $423 billion every year and are causing environmental chaos, UN report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Scroll through the gallery to see more of the planet's most problematic invasive species. Sarefo / Wikimedia Commons In pictures: Invasive species around the world Prev Next‘Prevention, prevention, prevention’Along with invasive species, other key drivers of biodiversity loss include destruction of land and sea habitats, exploitation of organisms, climate change and pollution. As well as flammable invasive plants sparking and spreading wildfires, climate change is enabling invasive species to move north – even to remote areas such as high mountains, deserts and frozen tundra. Preventing the arrival of new species into new regions is the best way to manage threats from invasive species, according to the report. For invasive species that have already taken hold, eradication has been a useful tool, especially on islands, according to the report.

Persons: ”, Helen Roy, ” Roy, David Gray, Peter Stoett, Anibal Pauchard, Ian Hitchcock, Starling, MENAHEM KAHANA, Phil Mislinski, Jeff J Mitchell, SANJAY KANOJIA, MUNIR UZ ZAMAN, ” Stoett, Stoett, –, ” Pauchard Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Services, billabong, Nile Virus, Ontario Tech University, Chile’s Institute of Ecology, Pacific, World Wildlife Fund, US Department of Agriculture, USA, Studies, New Zealand Government, European, Starlings, AFP, Getty, North, Wikimedia Locations: Darwin, Australia, Africa, Caribbean, Guam, North America, Hawaii, Maui, Antarctica, Pacific, North, South America, Azov, China, Japan, Europe, Bermuda, New Zealand, New York, USA, Australasia, South Africa, United States, AFP, East Africa, Western Asia, Americas, Kenya, India, Puerto Rico, Kunming, Montreal

Warmer temperatures under climate change are expected to further drive the expansion of invasive species. Invasive species are plants or animals, often moved around by human activity, that take hold in an environment with deleterious effects. ERADICATING INVADERSAbout three-quarters of the negative impacts from invasive species occur on land, especially in forests, woodlands, and farmed areas. Getting rid of invasive species once they are established, however, is difficult. Last December, the world's governments committed in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to reducing the introduction and establishment of priority invasive species by at least 50 percent by 2030.

Persons: Graeme Sawyer, David Gray, Helen Roy, Anibal Pauchard, Roy, Gloria Dickie, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Northern Territory, billabong, REUTERS, United Nations Intergovernmental, Services, Chile's Institute of Ecology, Thomson Locations: Darwin, Hawaii, Africa, West Nile, New Zealand, Kunming, Montreal, London

And Wagner’s beloved fireflies – like so many insects worldwide – have largely vanished in what scientists are calling the global Insect Apocalypse. “Insects are the food that make all the birds and make all the fish,” said Wagner, who works at the University of Connecticut. Humans, too, see some 2,000 species of insects as food. “We’d see yields dropping of all of these crops.”And in nature, about 80% of wild plants rely on insects for pollination. WINNERS AND LOSERSWhile the situation is bleak for insects at large, a few types of insects are thriving.

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