Common birds and butterflies

For further information on the scoreboard methodology please see Box I.1 in the EEA Environmental indicator report 2016

Setting the Scene

The 7th EAP (EU, 2013) contains the objective of halting, by 2020, the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services, as well as restoring them as far as feasible. The EU is losing biodiversity. Biodiversity is not only important in its own right, it also provides society with a wide range of ecosystem services upon which we depend, such as food, freshwater, pollination etc. This briefing examines trends in populations of common farmland and forest birds, and grassland butterflies. These are considered by the scientific community to be excellent barometers of the overall biodiversity and of the health of ecosystems, as they occur in many habitats and are sensitive to environmental change. For aspects of legally protected biodiversity and habitats, see the briefings on EU protected species (AIRS_PO1.7, 2016)¹ and habitats (AIRS_PO1.8, 2016).² 

Policy targets and progress

Halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services by 2020 is the central aim of the EU Biodiversity Strategy (EC, 2011). This includes preserving ‘common biodiversity’ such as common birds and grassland butterflies. This aligns with the 7th EAP objective of halting, by 2020, the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services. 

Since 1990, common bird populations have decreased by around 15 % in the EU; the decline of common farmland birds was more pronounced at 34 %, whereas common forest birds declined by 13 %. The trends remain very similar when Norway and Switzerland, two other EEA member countries for which data are available, are also included in the indicator coverage; for more information see the EEA indicator: abundance and distribution of selected species (EEA, 2016).

Figure 1. Long term trends for common bird species in 23 EU countries*

Note: * 23 EU Member States = all EU Member States except Croatia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta and Romania.

The negative trend in farmland-related biodiversity is confirmed by the population index for grassland butterflies in Figure 2 (species with a high sensitivity to habitat degradation and loss), for which a significant decline of 30 % has been observed since 1990.  

Figure 2. Long term trends for grassland butterflies in 14 EU countries

The long-term trends for common farmland birds and forest birds, as well as grassland butterflies, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, demonstrate that the EU has experienced a major decline in biodiversity associated with agro-ecosystems and grasslands (EEA, 2015). This was primarily due to habitat change — including loss, fragmentation and degradation — of natural and semi-natural habitats. The habitat change was mainly caused by homogenisation and loss of habitat as a result of agricultural intensification and land abandonment, intensely managed forests and some loss of habitats to urbanisation (EEA, 2015).

This negative trend shows no sign of changing, despite progress in enacting and implementing European policies (such the Birds and Habitats Directives (EU, 1992 and 2009) and the Water Framework Directive (EU, 2000)), as well as the environmental measures within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Unfortunately, to date the CAP has not influenced agricultural practices enough to reduce overall loss of biodiversity. The outcomes of the latest Habitats Directive reporting round demonstrate the lack of any substantial progress in the conservation status of grasslands. The vast majority of assessments of the conservation status of agricultural habitats, as well as of woodland and other forest habitats, remain unfavourable (over 86 % and 80 %, respectively).

The environment-related elements set out in the EU reform package, in particular for EU agriculture and cohesion policies, backed by the initiatives for greening the EU budget under the Multi-Annual Financial Framework 2014–2020, are designed to support those objectives. Greening of the CAP aims to promote environmentally beneficial agricultural and forestry practices such as crop diversification, the protection of permanent grassland and grazing land, and sustainable agroforestry. Rural Development Programmes 2014–2020 address restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems through payments to cover the cost of farmers adopting environment- and climate-friendly land management practices.

The mid-term review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy comprehensively assessed progress towards the headline target (and towards all six targets) and concluded that the EU is not on track to meet the objective of halting biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem services by 2020 (EC, 2015). The continuing declining trends apparent for regularly monitored groups, such as grassland butterflies and farmland birds, despite environmental measures implemented so far, illustrate well that it is highly unlikely that the objective will be achieved by 2020.

Outlook beyond 2020

It is difficult to forecast how soon biodiversity, as illustrated by the abundance of bird and grassland butterfly populations, will recover, as their state is influenced by a complex combination of environmental factors and policy measures. Substantial positive impacts of the CAP reform and the measures anticipated under the Multi-Annual Financial Framework 2014–2020 on common species associated with farmland might become visible in the 2020–2030 period, as long as these policies are implemented thoroughly and on a large scale throughout the EU. On the other hand, other factors that could adversely impact the outlook beyond 2020 include the negative impact of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystems, particularly on these specialist species groups that are dependent on non-intensive agriculture and forest ecosystems. The increased competition for land could also intensify agricultural production in the EU, through land take via urbanisation (AIRS_PO1.3, 2016)³, as well as for the production of renewable energy and biofuels (AIRS_PO2.6, 2016)⁴.

About the indicator

This indicator shows trends in the abundance of common birds and grassland butterflies over time across their European distribution. It is an index indicator (relative values, 1990 set to 100). Birds and butterflies are excellent barometers of the overall health of ecosystems, mainly because they occur in many habitats and are sensitive to environmental change. The data collection methods are scientifically sound, and birds and butterflies are familiar groups of species well known to the public. Common birds are monitored in 25 European countries (23 EU Member States (all EU-28, except Croatia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta and Romania) plus Norway and Switzerland). Butterfly monitoring has a more limited geographical coverage, with data available from 14 EU countries (Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom).