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<DIV><SPAN class=style9><STRONG><FONT size=2>U.K. Butterflies Are Increasingly
`At Risk,' Ministry Says </FONT></STRONG></SPAN><SPAN class=style5></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>March 2, 2006</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Full article on Bloomberg.com, at: <A
href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000102&sid=a9bRgW3QnOVk&refer=uk">http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000102&sid=a9bRgW3QnOVk&refer=uk</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Butterflies are in decline and ``increasingly at risk'' in
Britain's farmlands, a sign that may indicate a wider decline in the health of
the national ecosystem, the U.K. environment ministry said. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>A study of 40 butterfly species showed that their numbers have
declined by about 30 percent on British farmland over the past decade, the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said today in an e-mailed
statement. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>``Butterflies are an iconic species in their own right, and
they can be good indicators of the health of the entire ecosystem, so this
decline is worrying,'' Biodiversity Minister Jim Knight said in the statement.
``The implications for other insects, birds and mammals are concerning.''
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The decline can be put down to a ``variety'' of reasons,
including humans cutting back bracken and scrub, and overgrazing by rabbits,
DEFRA said. An analysis of more than 820 sites covered by the survey showed that
most ``priority'' species of butterflies did better on farmland managed under
government plans that promote environmental protection, DEFRA said.
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<DIV><FONT
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Conservation</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>
<DIV><FONT size=1>Protecting wildlife through science-based advocacy,
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