Almost half of all bird species are in decline globally and one in eight are threatened with extinction, according to a major new report warning that human actions are driving more species to the brink and nature is “in trouble”. The four-yearly State of the World’s Birds report, which provides a snapshot of the plight of species globally and more broadly a barometer for biodiversity, comes as the United Nations steers an international process to protect nature. “One in eight bird species is threatened with extinction, and the status of the world’s birds continues to deteriorate: species are moving ever faster towards extinction,” said the report released this week by BirdLife International. Silvery-cheeked hornbill at Lake Manyara National Reserve, Tanzania. Using data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the report said 49 per cent of bird species worldwide have declining populations, with populations falling even in species not normally rare or at risk. Roughly 13 per cent are considered threatened. The main threats include the growth of unsustainable agriculture, logging, invasive species, over-exploitation and climate change. Most bird...
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