SPECIES IN DANGER
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We don't know know how many
different species
exist in the
world, the estimates range from 10 to 100 million. But we
do know, thanks to all the data collected, that species
are disappearing at an increasing rate. Earlier species
became extinct as a result of hunting and persecution,
nowadays habitat loss is the main reason. The latest
assessment of threatened species shows that appr. 10% of
the species in Finland are threatened. Habitat loss is a
result of all human activities, hence monitoring and
improving those activities is crucial for preserving
habitat and biodiversity. The new Nature Conservation Act (1996) gives a better protection to
species. Lapland is a unique area in Europe, the flora and fauna is sparse and to a great extent endemic. Paradoxically many of the species classified endangered in Lapland, are also game animals and thus hunted during a specific hunting season or with a restricted permission! Such species are e.g. the wolf (Canis lupus), bear (Ursus arctos), wolverine (Gulo gulo) and lynx (Lynx lynx). The most significant threats for habitat loss in Lapland are forest fragmentation and acidification with climate change. The species in danger are numerous, the most well-known vertebrae species being golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), arctic fox (Alopex lagopus), and wild salmon (Salmo salar) breeds. The insects are the most numerous animals, but because of the small size the disappearance of insect species is rarely even noticed. The list of endangered species in plants in Lapland is long, basically because the biomes are restricted to Lapland and those species are not found anywhere else. |