More freshwater biodiversity, less on land

11/12/2024 15:00

Since 1990, the Living Planet Index for the Netherlands has increased by an average of 13 percent. Populations of animals that live in freshwater have increased, but populations of animals that live in farmland, urban areas and areas of open nature have declined. This is according to new figures released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

Biodiversity is an important part of the European Green Deal presented by the previous European Commission on 11 December 2019. In addition to figures on nature and biodiversity, CBS’s Green Deal dashboard also includes figures on energy, greenhouse gases and the circular economy.

The Living Planet Index (LPI) is often used to measure biodiversity. CBS calculates the LPI score for the Netherlands, which shows the average change in the populations of almost all species of breeding birds, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies and dragonflies, as well as many of the species of mammals and freshwater fish found in the Netherlands. In addition to this, CBS calculates population changes among animals that live in freshwater and marshland, and animals that live on land (terrestrial species).

The Netherlands’ average LPI score has been on an upward trend since 1990. This is because populations of freshwater and marshland species increased by 89 percent on average, mainly due to improved water quality. This has enabled the reintroduction of the otter, for example. The recovery of wildlife, more marshland and climate change – which is beneficial for some freshwater and marshland species – have also played a role.

Terrestrial species populations, by contrast, have declined since 1990, falling by 27 percent. This is mainly due to declines in species that live in open natural areas, such as heathland and dunes, and declines in species that live in farmland and urban habitats.

Living Planet Index
Jaar	Fauna: terrestrial and freshwater (1990=100)	Fauna: freshwater and marshland (1990=100)	Fauna: terrestrial (1990=100)
1990	100	100	100
1991	100	103.64	96.95
1992	100.07	107.36	94.16
1993	100.22	111.17	91.59
1994	100.43	115.1	89.25
1995	100.75	119.17	87.09
1996	101.14	123.39	85.13
1997	101.6	127.66	83.35
1998	102.09	131.9	81.76
1999	102.73	136.43	80.33
2000	103.54	141.38	79.04
2001	104.39	146.33	77.9
2002	105.15	150.79	76.93
2003	105.79	154.72	76.1
2004	106.41	158.35	75.4
2005	106.99	161.56	74.86
2006	107.54	164.22	74.52
2007	108.03	165.87	74.51
2008	108.47	166.46	74.84
2009	108.87	166.52	75.33
2010	109.26	166.56	75.81
2011	109.67	167.11	76.12
2012	110.1	168.04	76.32
2013	110.55	168.95	76.54
2014	110.98	170	76.69
2015	111.37	171.34	76.68
2016	111.72	172.94	76.52
2017	112.05	174.66	76.3
2018	112.36	176.55	75.99
2019	112.64	178.64	75.58
2020	112.88	180.97	75.05
2021	113.09	183.5	74.43
2022	113.28	186.23	73.72
2023	113.43	189.18	72.93

Living Planet Index
Jaar	Fauna: terrestrial and freshwater (1990=100)	Fauna: freshwater and marshland (1990=100)	Fauna: terrestrial (1990=100)
1990	100	100	100
1991	100	103.64	96.95
1992	100.07	107.36	94.16
1993	100.22	111.17	91.59
1994	100.43	115.1	89.25
1995	100.75	119.17	87.09
1996	101.14	123.39	85.13
1997	101.6	127.66	83.35
1998	102.09	131.9	81.76
1999	102.73	136.43	80.33
2000	103.54	141.38	79.04
2001	104.39	146.33	77.9
2002	105.15	150.79	76.93
2003	105.79	154.72	76.1
2004	106.41	158.35	75.4
2005	106.99	161.56	74.86
2006	107.54	164.22	74.52
2007	108.03	165.87	74.51
2008	108.47	166.46	74.84
2009	108.87	166.52	75.33
2010	109.26	166.56	75.81
2011	109.67	167.11	76.12
2012	110.1	168.04	76.32
2013	110.55	168.95	76.54
2014	110.98	170	76.69
2015	111.37	171.34	76.68
2016	111.72	172.94	76.52
2017	112.05	174.66	76.3
2018	112.36	176.55	75.99
2019	112.64	178.64	75.58
2020	112.88	180.97	75.05
2021	113.09	183.5	74.43
2022	113.28	186.23	73.72
2023	113.43	189.18	72.93

Decline in species in open natural areas, recovery in forest species

Species living in open natural areas have declined by 55 percent since 1990. Several factors have played a significant role in this, such as high rates of nitrogen deposition, desiccation and the fragmentation of habitats. Elevated rates of nitrogen deposition mean that open natural areas become overgrown with grasses and shrubs more quickly. This leaves less habitat for species that live in more open areas, such as the northern wheatear.

Populations of forest-dwelling species such as apple finch have actually been on the rise since the start of this century. This is because new forests have been created, existing forests are maturing, and there is more variation in forest structure.

Population trends in wild animals
Jaar	Forest (1990=100)	Areas of open nature (1990=100)	Farmland (1990=100)	Birds in urban areas (2007=100) (1990=100)
1990	100	100	100
1991	96.03	97.38	96.54
1992	92.54	94.81	93.34
1993	89.49	92.27	90.38
1994	86.86	89.75	87.64
1995	84.62	87.2	85.11
1996	82.74	84.67	82.79
1997	81.19	82.2	80.65
1998	79.94	79.88	78.67
1999	78.99	77.49	76.87
2000	78.35	74.95	75.21
2001	77.98	72.51	73.69
2002	77.83	70.4	72.27
2003	78.19	68.58	71.02
2004	79.07	66.9	69.96
2005	80.11	65.43	68.99
2006	80.89	64.24	68.02
2007	81.39	63.57	67.06	100
2008	81.86	63.4	66.15	100.6
2009	82.33	63.42	65.23	100.83
2010	82.81	63.31	64.25	100.66
2011	83.32	62.75	63.17	100.23
2012	83.93	61.8	61.94	99.69
2013	84.62	60.71	60.67	98.94
2014	85.32	59.5	59.48	97.96
2015	85.93	58.17	58.52	96.64
2016	86.49	56.75	57.74	94.82
2017	87.04	55.24	57.01	93.01
2018	87.58	53.64	56.36	91.25
2019	88.09	51.96	55.81	89.59
2020	88.56	50.22	55.37	88.29
2021	88.99	48.42	55.02	87.21
2022	89.4	46.58	54.75	86.37
2023	89.79	44.7	54.57	85.72

Population trends in wild animals
Jaar	Forest (1990=100)	Areas of open nature (1990=100)	Farmland (1990=100)	Birds in urban areas (2007=100) (1990=100)
1990	100	100	100
1991	96.03	97.38	96.54
1992	92.54	94.81	93.34
1993	89.49	92.27	90.38
1994	86.86	89.75	87.64
1995	84.62	87.2	85.11
1996	82.74	84.67	82.79
1997	81.19	82.2	80.65
1998	79.94	79.88	78.67
1999	78.99	77.49	76.87
2000	78.35	74.95	75.21
2001	77.98	72.51	73.69
2002	77.83	70.4	72.27
2003	78.19	68.58	71.02
2004	79.07	66.9	69.96
2005	80.11	65.43	68.99
2006	80.89	64.24	68.02
2007	81.39	63.57	67.06	100
2008	81.86	63.4	66.15	100.6
2009	82.33	63.42	65.23	100.83
2010	82.81	63.31	64.25	100.66
2011	83.32	62.75	63.17	100.23
2012	83.93	61.8	61.94	99.69
2013	84.62	60.71	60.67	98.94
2014	85.32	59.5	59.48	97.96
2015	85.93	58.17	58.52	96.64
2016	86.49	56.75	57.74	94.82
2017	87.04	55.24	57.01	93.01
2018	87.58	53.64	56.36	91.25
2019	88.09	51.96	55.81	89.59
2020	88.56	50.22	55.37	88.29
2021	88.99	48.42	55.02	87.21
2022	89.4	46.58	54.75	86.37
2023	89.79	44.7	54.57	85.72

Decline in farmland and urban species

Populations of farmland species, such as black-tailed godwit and northern lapwing, declined by an average of 45 percent. This is partly because agriculture has become more intensive, making farmland a less suitable habitat. More fertiliser is used, mowing begins earlier, and fewer edges and corners of fields are left uncultivated, reducing the number of flowers that attract insects.

Population trends in bird species in urban areas have been measured since 2007, and populations have been in decline since then. This is mainly due to a decline in birds that live in parks and shrubs. The blackbird population, for example, has fallen by 30 percent.

Sources

Environmental Data Compendium - Trends in fauna - all species monitored - Living Planet Index Netherlands, 1990-2023
Environmental Data Compendium - Types of nature in the Netherlands, 2023