VOLUME 33 - N. 2

Abstract:

The main goal of the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme is to produce policy-relevant indicators of the general state of biodiversity using scientifc data on changes in breeding populations of common birds across Europe. In the third set of European indices presented here, we summarise population trends of 124 widespread terrestrial species. Information was derived from annual national breeding bird surveys, spanning different periods, from 20 European countries. At a European scale, the 2007 update of indicators shows that common birds are in moderate decline, with populations having fallen by 14% over the last 25 years. Over the same time period, common farmland birds have crashed, falling by 44%. Agricultural intensifcation is thought to be the main driver of this decline. The trends of common forest birds, which have declined moderately by 9% in Europe, show marked regional differences. While on average populations have been stable in the west and east of Europe, they show considerable declines in the north, where forest birds are thought to be threatened by highly intensive forestry exploitation, and in the south, where possible threats are more uncertain. Further research is planned to improve our understanding of the species trends patterns and their drivers.