Number of birds declining rapidly worldwide

Birds are under pressure worldwide like never before: Nearly half of all bird species show declining populations, with only 6% increasing.

1,409 species (one in eight) are currently listed on the global Red List, and 187 have already gone extinct. This is shown by the new scientific report «State of the World’s Birds 2022» by BirdLife International. It also identifies the causes of the global biodiversity crisis and presents solutions. A comparison with Switzerland reveals that the situation here is particularly dramatic, with a proportion of threatened species three times higher.

The scientific report published yesterday «State of the World’s Birds 2022» by BirdLife International uses the most up-to-date available data from around the world to show how birds on our planet are faring. Birds are indicators of the state of biodiversity. They are among the best-studied groups of species worldwide and are found in almost every part of the Earth. Declines in bird species or entire species groups therefore provide important signals about problems within individual ecosystems.

The report on the state of the world’s birds is published every four years. In this year’s fifth update, the figures are, according to the authors, more alarming than ever before. Nearly half of all approximately 11,000 bird species on our planet are recorded as declining, with many populations already severely depleted. Only 6% of species show increasing trends. One in eight bird species (13%) is listed on the global Red List under the strict international criteria (categories «vulnerable» to «critically endangered»). A further 9% appear on the near-threatened watchlist (category «near threatened»). 187 species have already gone extinct.

Swiss Red List even longer

The situation in Switzerland is even more dramatic: the Red List of Breeding Birds of Switzerland, compiled according to the same international criteria, contains roughly three times the proportion of species — 40% of the 205 breeding bird species are on the Red List. The near-threatened list is also longer (20% versus 9%). Since 2010, 17 species have been moved to a better category, while 25 have been moved to a worse one¹. Species of farmland and wetlands are particularly at risk; birds are faring somewhat better in forests, though with exceptions.

A direct comparison of Swiss and global figures does present certain methodological difficulties. Nevertheless, the finding that the state of birdlife and biodiversity in Switzerland is particularly dire is clearly confirmed by numerous additional studies and supplementary comparisons².

Five species listed on the global near-threatened list are also breeding birds in Switzerland: the rock partridge, ferruginous duck, Eurasian curlew (functionally extinct in Switzerland, however), bearded vulture, and red kite. In addition, 14 bird species are on the European Red List or near-threatened list, including the northern lapwing, rock ptarmigan, meadow pipit, and turtle dove³. For all of these species, Switzerland bears a special responsibility due to their global and European threat status.

Some further key findings from the report:

• In North America and the EU alone, bird populations have shrunk by 3 billion birds over the past 50 years. This represents a decline of 29% in North America and approximately 18% in the EU.
   
• In Europe, major differences are evident with regard to ecosystems: while forest bird populations have declined by 3% since 1980, farmland birds have declined by 57%. Among mountain birds, the decline amounts to 10% within just 12 years (2002–2014).
   
• According to the report, the expansion and intensification of agriculture is the greatest threat to birds worldwide, affecting 73% of all threatened species. Increasing mechanisation, the use of agrochemicals, and the conversion of grassland to arable land have led, for example, to a 57% decline in farmland birds across Europe since 1980.
   
• Unsustainable deforestation and forest management are also a major problem worldwide: the loss of more than 7 million hectares of forest per year (1.7 times the area of Switzerland) has an impact on half of all threatened bird species.

Declarations of intent must be followed by action

«Birds tell us about the state of our natural environment», says Patricia Zurita, CEO of BirdLife International. «But we humans ignore their messages.» She adds: «While the Covid pandemic and other crises have diverted attention from the environmental agenda, global society must now refocus on the biodiversity crisis.»

For Raffael Ayé, Executive Director of BirdLife Switzerland, it is also clear that the global biodiversity crisis is still receiving far too little attention — particularly in Switzerland. «The climate and biodiversity crises must be solved together. We are in the sixth global extinction wave and must now fight back decisively.» One of the most urgent measures is securing the key areas needed for the conservation of biodiversity and birds. In Switzerland, it is essential to rapidly establish a functioning ecological infrastructure: a nationwide network of valuable areas in which biodiversity is effectively protected and promoted. «It is important that all sectoral policies become aware of the great need for action and lend a hand to tackle the challenges together, so that the necessary measures to protect our natural foundations can finally be implemented», says Raffael Ayé.

Further urgent measures in the global context include:

• Adjustments in agricultural policy in favour of sustainable farming
• Combating deforestation
• Rapid action on the climate crisis with genuine nature-based solutions
• Combating poaching and improving hunting laws
• Concrete conservation measures for endangered species
• Strengthened measures against the global spread of non-native invasive animal and plant species.
• Sustainable fisheries and the reduction of bycatch.

The turnaround is possible

Ultimately, however, birds also give us reason for hope: they demonstrate that with effective measures, species can be saved and nature can recover. Over 450 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) have so far been designated as protected areas through the efforts of BirdLife partners. And since 2013, 726 globally threatened bird species have directly benefited from the measures of the BirdLife partnership. BirdLife Switzerland is also achieving a strong positive impact on populations through its projects for the little owl, lapwing, sand martin and other species. Raffael Ayé concludes: «If politics, authorities, business and society finally invest seriously in the protection of biodiversity in Switzerland, then a significant improvement is possible!»

• Report «State of the World’s Birds 2022»: birdlife.ch/report2022
    

¹ https://www.birdlife.ch/sites/default/files/documents/Orn1_36-38_RoteListe.pdf

² – https://www.birdlife.ch/de/content/neuer-bericht-zeigt-biodiversitaet-schwindet-bund-schaut-zu
– https://www.birdlife.ch/de/content/biodiversitaet-wo-steht-die-schweiz

³ Bird species on the European Red List that breed in Switzerland: common eider, common pochard, lapwing, Eurasian curlew (extinct in CH), bearded vulture, common kingfisher, European turtle dove, great grey shrike (extinct in CH). Species on the European pre-warning list: red-breasted merganser, common coot, red kite, rock ptarmigan, meadow pipit, rock partridge