The first England Red List for vascular plants was launched at Kew Gardens earlier this month. The List, which is a complex analysis of the changing distribution of our native flora, has identified the most threatened plant species in the country. Its publication follows similar lists covering wildlife in Great Britain as a whole (in 2005) and Wales (2008).

image expired

The key findings of the Red List, presented on 17^th September in London, are that fully a fifth of England’s wildflower species are under threat.

Populations of the majority of threatened plant species have been slashed by a third or more. Wildflowers associated with highly acid soils, or basic open habitats on relatively infertile ground, such as Great Sundew and Burnt-tip Orchid have been particularly hard-hit.

David Roy, from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, which contributed work to the Red List, said the "landmark" project used comprehensive and objective analysis to reach its concerning conclusions. Roy also praised "the unique contribution of expert volunteers (a type of citizen scientist) for identifying conservation priorities and understanding threats to our native wildlife."

In addition to the large number of plants already featured on the Red List, the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI), which was pivotal in producing the List, warned that wildflowers thought of by many as being relatively common are also coming dangerously close to being listed as threatened.

BSBI's Dr Pete Stroh, who coordinated the Red List project, said "The modification or loss of vast swathes of our countryside throughout the past 60 years and more, particularly in lowland England, has been well documented. 

"With such rapid change it is troubling - but perhaps not particularly surprising - to find out that species we have long thought of as common in the 'wider countryside' and under no immediate threat have declined to such an extent that they are now assessed as 'Near Threatened'.  In many cases, this equates to a decline of more than 20 percent during what is, botanically speaking, the blink of an eye."

Commenting on the findings, Fred Rumsey, from the Natural History Museum added, "Many people may be surprised to see some very familiar plants on this list – the extent of whose decline at an English level has been a revelation. It really shows the challenge we face in the most populous, developed and agriculturally productive areas of our country to preserve healthy ecosystems with flourishing biodiversity."

The List's authors have called on the government and others behind policy and land management decisions to work with the botanical community to address issues such as habitat loss and 'fragmentation', arising from land use change and which hinder the distribution and survival of wild plants and animals.  

Red Lists are an internationally recognised method to assess the natural world and determine different species' risk of extinction using guidelines designed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to assess and determine risks of extinction.

On Tuesday (30^th September), conservation organisation WWF released its Living Planted report. The report suggests that 50 percent of wildlife has been lost from the planet as a whole over the past 40 years. In response to the findings, WWF said there is a desperate "need for sustainable solutions to heal the planet."  

Commenting on the study, which tracked the populations of over 10,000 vertebrate species between 1970 and 2010 using databases maintained by the Zoological Society of London, WWF International Director General Marco Lambertini said, "Biodiversity is a crucial part of the systems that sustain life on Earth – and the barometer of what we are doing to this planet, our only home. We urgently need bold global action in all sectors of society to build a more sustainable future."

Declines have hit freshwater species particularly hard; this group of animals has suffered a 76 percent since 1970. The conservation group also said its findings show that climate change is already having marked effects on life on Earth.