Even biodiversity-friendly policies may not halt declines in Europe's common birds and butterflies by 2050
As part of its efforts to map out Europe's science-policy interface for biodiversity, a paper on the correlation between governance objectives for safeguarding the biosphere and on-the-ground realities for select species groups has been published. The work is in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.
A recent study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution highlights that even well-intentioned conservation policies may not be sufficient to prevent continued declines in common bird and butterfly species across Europe by 2050. The research, led by postdoctoral fellow Stanislas Rigal and involving an international team of scientists, analyzed the impacts of climate change, land use, and intensity on 263 bird species and 144 butterfly species.
The findings indicate that all assessed conservation scenarios, including those aligned with key EU policies like the EU's 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, 2030 Forest Strategy, and Farm to Fork Strategy, are inadequate to halt or reverse the projected declines. Farmland birds and grassland butterflies are particularly vulnerable, with climate change exacerbating pressures on butterflies.
While forests may fare relatively better due to expanding forest cover, intensive forest management continues to pose a challenge. The study underscores the need for more ambitious and transformative conservation strategies that address the growing demands for agricultural and forest production, rather than simply managing land use.
This suggests that current conservation efforts may not be enough to secure Europe's common biodiversity, and a more balanced approach between socioeconomic considerations and targeted biodiversity conservation is required.
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