The species at risk of extinction in Wales named in first of its kind report

A new study has identified thousands of species at risk of extinction in Wales.

The “first report of its kind in the UK” ranks the country's rarest species, including the tall brown fritillary butterfly and the Snowdon leaf beetle, based on how geographically limited they are, it said. Natural Resources of Wales (SRV).

Three thousand species were found to currently exist in five or fewer locations, making them highly vulnerable to habitat loss, climate change and sudden catastrophic events such as hurricanes, the report said.

The Welsh government body tasked with conserving and protecting the environment hopes the findings will help it focus resources on areas most at risk of species being lost forever.

There have already been 11 species extinctions in Wales since the turn of the millennium, with the European turtle dove and belted beauty moth becoming geographically extinct.

The Species at Risk report warns that other animals could suffer a similar fate, including the tall brown fritillary butterfly and Snowdon's rainbow leaf beetle, the Arctic-alpine pea mussel, the woolly feather grass and the ocellated chestnut rugose lichen.

But according to NRW experts, preserving them may not cost the earth.

“Some of the solutions for these species are incredibly simple,” said Mannon Lewis, strategic project manager for the organism.

“It's about changing our grazing patterns, changing when we cut the grass rather than felling it, looking at different ways of trimming our hedges.

“These are inexpensive and simple measures, and now we know exactly where we need to do it.”

The report highlights the role that both nature reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) play in ensuring the survival of plants and animals.

It highlights places such as Newborough Warren on Anglesey, which is home to 130 species at risk.

This is a national nature reserve consisting of sand dunes and forests, where environmental improvement projects are already underway.

Steps already taken include putting ponies out to pasture and opening some dunes to the elements.

“They've already accomplished a lot,” said Mike Howe, one of the ecologists who helped compile the new study.

“Within a few months of opening up some of these empty sites, we had beetle species that had not been recorded in Newborough for about 10 years suddenly appearing in huge numbers.”

Conservationist Tyler Hallman said NRW's approach, particularly linking networks of special sites and nature reserves, offered a positive way forward and could even lead to the return of species that are currently extinct in Wales.

“I think there are huge success stories in conservation,” he said.

“The European turtle dove has gone extinct in Wales, but their populations in Europe have increased significantly over the last few years, so who knows, they might come back.

“You may see things come back as conditions improve and the species as a whole improves. I think it's a huge plus that there are things we can do.”