Dragonflies at risk globally due to destruction of wetlands

Bhubaneswar: The destruction of wetlands is leading to global decline of dragonflies, the beautiful aerial insects most commonly found around ponds, streams and rivers.

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) latest Red List of Threatened Species, the dragonflies are under threat of extinction.

The loss of marshes, swamps and free-flowing rivers where the insects breed in due to expansion of unsustainable agriculture and urbanization around the world is leading to decline of the colourful group of insects.

With Thursday’s red-list update, the number of species listed as at risk of extinction on the Red List has exceeded 40,000 for the first time.

“The Red List update underscores that there is urgent need to protect wetlands. Globally, these ecosystems are disappearing three times faster than forests,” said Dr Bruno Oberle, IUCN Director General.

“Marshes and other wetlands may appear as unproductive to humans, but they provide us with essential services. They store carbon, give us clean water and food, protect us from floods, as well as offer habitats for one in 10 of the world’s known species,” he said.

By highlighting the update that the human race is in danger of losing these insects, the researchers said that it’s high time people need to protect their wetlands.

The assessment of the world’s dragonflies and damselflies reveals that 16 per cent out of 6,016 species are at risk of extinction, as their freshwater breeding grounds continue to deteriorate.

The update reveals that more than a quarter of all species are under threat in south and southeast Asia due to loss of wetlands that are being converted for agriculture purpose.

In Central and South America, the major cause of dragonflies’ decline is the clearing of forests for residential and commercial construction.

Pesticides, other pollutants as well as climate change are also the major factors for decline of the species in North America, Europe and in every region of the world.

Besides, the Pyrenean desman, a small semiaquatic mammal mostly found in rivers in countries like Andorra, France, Portugal and Spain, features in endangered list of the IUCN.

The population of Pyrenean desman has declined by 50% since 2011 due to agricultural and dam projects.

Disruption to river flow and reduced water levels as a result of hydropower plant, dam and reservoir construction and water extraction for agriculture reduce desman populations significantly, the researchers said.

[Note: This story is a part of ‘Punascha Pruthibi – One Earth. Unite for It’, an awareness campaign by Sambad Digital.]