One in five animal species in Italy
are at risk of extinction, Legambiente environmentalist group
said Thursday.
At least 596 coleoptera, corals, rays, sharks, and sponges
are at risk out of a sample of 2,807 Italian species, the group
said in its first Italian Biodiversity Barometer ahead of World
Biodiversity Day on March 22.
Another 376 invertebrate and sea animal species face
unknown risks of extinction, according to the Legambiente
report.
The losses are being caused by rising temperatures,
"indiscriminate land use" and "excessive consumption of
resources", according to the report.
Legambiente cited a recent study published in Science
magazine showing that if unchecked, global warming will wipe one
in six animal and plant species off the face of the planet by
2100.
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