Japan’s environment ministry says the populations of 16 species of birds have been declining at a sharp pace. It notes that at this rate the species could become endangered.
The ministry has been studying ecological changes at about 1,000 locations across Japan since 2003. It has been examining the sites jointly with some local residents and researchers.
The ministry has analyzed ecological data that was collected in woodlands around villages up to March of 2023.
It has found that, out of 106 species of birds, the populations of 16 of them have decreased by 3.5 percent or more annually. The sparrow is one of the 16 species. The rates of decline are similar to those of endangered species that appear on the ministry’s Red List.
The sparrow population has shrunk by 3.6 percent annually, and the Japanese wagtail population has declined by 8.6 percent.
The ministry has also analyzed data on 103 species of butterflies. It has determined that the populations of 34 species have decreased by 3.5 percent or more every year.
Of those species, the great purple emperor population has decreased at an annual pace of 10.4 percent, while the straight swift population has shrunk at a rate of 6.9 percent. The great purple emperor is considered to be the national butterfly.
The ministry attributes the shrinking populations to global warming. It notes that the problem has reduced the number of habitats that are suitable for the species. It also attributes the decline in populations to environmental changes in and around village forests.
The ministry considers the loss of biodiversity around village forests throughout Japan to be a serious problem.
It plans to continue to conduct research and come up with preservation measures based on the findings from the latest study.