LONDON (Reuters) - Nearly 500 animal and plant species have become extinct in England in the last two centuries with butterflies and amphibians being particularly hard hit, according to a report on Thursday.
It said almost 1,000 native species face an uncertain future and have been given conservation priority status, including the red squirrel, common toad, and European eel.
"Every species has a role and, like rivets in an aeroplane, the overall structure of our environment is weakened each time a single species is lost," said Chief Executive of Natural England Helen Phillips.
Coinciding with the International Year of Biodiversity, Natural England, the government's independent advisor on the natural environment, has released "The Lost Life" report which is the first ever audit of all of England's lost and declining native species.
It said the erosion of English biodiversity is due to habitat loss, inappropriate management, environmental pollution and pressure from non-native species.
Natural England said all the major groups of flora and fauna have experienced losses and that recent extinctions include the chequered skipper butterfly, the mouse-eared bat and the great yellow bumblebee.
Despite this, it saw some successes such as the return of the red kite and the large blue butterfly.
(Reporting by Valle Aviles Pinedo: Editing by Steve Addison)
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