Glis glis

The new UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) priority species list was released a couple of weeks ago. Browsing through websites and forums, one article caught my attention, as it asked ‘why are herring gulls on the list, but not golden eagles’.
I have no involvement with UKBAP, therefore this is just my interperation; UKBAP is about highlighting the rapid decline of species (and therefore biodiversity), not sizes of populations. The criteria for priority species is a decrease of more than 50% of the population in the last 25 years, ie. if the rate continues, there is potential for the species to be extinct from the UK in the next 25 years.

It highlights a need for action due to the population decline (though of course, a small population can also increase the risk of extinction). UKBAP is not a statutory protection, however there is plenty of legislation protecting rare species. Obviously, the two can overlap e.g. great crested newts are a European Protected Species and a UKBAP species.

So adding the Herring Gull is not as ridiculous as it sounds..! Just because there’s so many, doesn’t mean we can afford to lose them at a high rate…