Merlin - UK's Smallest Bird Of Prey - Extinct By 2050 (W. 200+ Other Species) If Emissions, Land Use Don't Change
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According to the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), there is a 20-year window in which decisions on climate and land use will determine the fate of dozens of Britain’s native species. By 2050, the British isles, already one of the most nature-depleted regions in the world, faces an ecological “point of no return”, they said. “Our results show that the next 20 years will be decisive,” said Dr Rob Cooke, a senior ecologist at UKCEH and the lead author on the study, published in the journal Nature Communications. “The choices we make now will set Britain on a path either towards accelerating biodiversity loss or towards nature recovery.”
Cooke and his colleagues modelled six plausible future scenarios involving different levels of greenhouse gas emissions and varying land management practices. Better-case scenarios involved strong action on emissions, sustainable land management, reduced meat and dairy consumption, and an overall societal shift towards valuing the environment.
The worst-case scenario involved environmentally damaging agricultural and urban intensification, and greenhouse gas emissions putting the world on course for 4C of global heating above preindustrial levels.
In such a scenario, 196 species of plant, 31 birds and seven butterflies would eventually become extinct in Britain – losses at more than three times the historical extinction rate. Many areas of the country would lose up to 20% of their existing local species.
Cooke added: “Some species that have been part of our landscapes for centuries are now at risk of being lost, such as the merlin, the UK’s smallest bird of prey, mountain ringlet and large heath butterflies, as well as plants such as burnt orchid, grass-of-Parnassus and Alpine gentian.
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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/mar/31/uk-smallest-bird-prey-among-species-risk-extinction-study-finds
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