Experts battling extinctions after record heat
Scientists are studying the plight of six species of butterfly and plant affected by the heatwaves.
Experts are racing to prevent extinctions as the UK grapples with its hottest summer on record. The Royal Entomological Society, supported by Natural England and the Crown Estate, is updating conservation guidance for grassland sites in Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. This project aims to study how climate change is affecting six endangered species, including the large blue butterfly, the marsh fritillary butterfly, and the burnt-tip orchid.
The society emphasizes that many conservation efforts rely on outdated guidance written over 20 years ago. Meanwhile, at the National Trust's Holnicote Estate, beavers have created wetlands that have helped mitigate the effects of the drought, demonstrating the value of nature-based solutions. The £60 million Species Recovery Programme, part of the Wild Again: Restoring England's Wildlife initiative, funds over 130 projects to boost wildlife recovery across the UK.
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