Merlin could disappear in worst-case scenario, with British isles facing ecological ‘point of no return’
The merlin, Britain’s smallest bird of prey, is one of more than 200 species that will become extinct in the UK if action is not taken to curb emissions and unsustainable land use, a study has claimed.
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, who was 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.”
