Critical declines in European Odonata populations highlighted in new European Red List report
Fourteen years after the first “”, the extinction risk of damselflies and dragonflies in Europe has been reassessed with new data and trend analysis. This updated regional Red List provides a comprehensive overview of the conservation status of European Odonata, offering key insights and knowledge for conservation planning and prioritisation: the European Red List of Dragonflies & Damselflies (Odonata).
In the past, the Moorland Hawker (Aeshna juncea) was a common species found in bogs. Over the past decade, it has experienced a decline of over 50%.
Of the 146 species assessed, 21% are currently threatened with extinction, representing a staggering increase of approximately 50% in the number of endangered Odonata since 2010. Additionally, experts have found that 12% of these species are Near Threatened, meaning they are close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future. The situation is even more dire for species endemic to the European region, with 42% threatened and 21% Near Threatened.
The situation for the 137 species occurring within the EU is quite similar to that of Europe as a whole 21.9% (thirty species) of extant species for which sufficient data are available are threatened (with none assessed as Data Deficient), of which 1.5% are Critically Endangered, 7.3% Endangered and 13.9% Vulnerable. A further 19 species (13.1%) were assessed as Near Threatened.
The survival of European dragonflies and damselflies is closely linked to the quality and availability of freshwater habitats. Climate change, pollution, and poor water management are among the top threats to these animals, which have adapted to very specific environmental conditions to complete their life cycles. For example, increased water abstraction for agricultural purposes and more frequent and intense droughts are resulting in habitat destruction throughout the Mediterranean region. Simultaneously, oligotrophic species that rely on nutrient-poor environments suffer from eutrophication. The complex interaction of these threats over the past decade has led to significant population declines for 29% of all European dragonflies and damselflies.
A variety of initiatives are needed to counter current threats and declining trends. The authors stress the importance of monitoring and regional coordination of research efforts to fill current knowledge gaps. Restoration and conservation of small-sized watercourses, especially in the Mediterranean region, should be a priority, along with appropriate management of wetlands. Both local planning and regional policymaking play critical roles in these efforts.
This updated regional Red List will be complemented by an additional knowledge product focused on translating the information gathered through the Red List into transformative conservation action on the ground. "Moving from Assessment to Planning for Threatened European Dragonflies" is designed to identify and prioritise key actions needed for effective Odonata conservation in the coming five to ten years.
Both publications are part of the EU-funded project "Providing Technical and Scientific Support in Measuring the Pulse of European Biodiversity Using the Red List Index," in which ϲʿֱֳ is leading the update of over 9,500 Red List assessments across multiple species groups with the ultimate goal of evaluating the wellbeing of European biodiversity. For more information on the project, please contact Konstantin Gospodinov ([email protected]).
Download the European Red List of Dragonflies & Damselflies (Odonata) report
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