By Abbas Nazil
More than half of the world’s bird species are in decline, according to a new global assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as leaders gather in Abu Dhabi for a crucial biodiversity summit addressing the extinction crisis.
The report reveals that 61% of bird species assessed now show decreasing populations, a significant rise from 44% just nine years ago.
Scientists attribute the alarming trend to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and human development destroying natural habitats worldwide.
From Madagascar’s Schlegel’s asity to the northern nightingale-wren of Central America, many species are losing vital ecosystems.
Dr. Ian Burfield, BirdLife International’s global science coordinator, warned that the figures demonstrate the severity of the global biodiversity crisis, urging governments to act decisively on existing environmental commitments.
At the IUCN congress in Abu Dhabi, hundreds of conservationists are emphasizing the importance of implementing strong policies to reverse these declines.
Birds play crucial roles in ecosystems by pollinating flowers, dispersing seeds, and controlling pests.
For instance, tropical hornbills can disperse up to 12,700 large seeds per day within a square kilometre, highlighting their ecological importance.
Dr. Malin Rivers from Botanic Gardens Conservation International noted that birds and trees are interdependent—trees rely on birds for regeneration while birds depend on trees for shelter and survival.
Amid widespread concern, the green sea turtle’s recovery offers a rare success story.
Once endangered, the species is now listed as of “least concern,” thanks to global conservation efforts that increased its population by 28% since the 1970s through nest protection initiatives in Brazil, Mexico, Hawaii, and Ascension Island.
However, Arctic seals face the opposite fate.
Bearded and harp seal populations are declining rapidly as melting sea ice—caused by global warming—erodes their breeding and resting grounds.
Dr. Kit Kovacs of the Norwegian Polar Institute described the seals’ struggle in Svalbard as a stark reminder that climate change’s impacts are already unfolding, threatening both seals and their predators, such as polar bears.
Experts warn that without immediate and coordinated global action, more bird and marine species could edge closer to extinction.
