The revision of the Danish Red List, which was initiated in 2003, has now been completed. The status for the species examined shows that approx. every four of the species on which adequate data exists is categorised as threatened to a higher or lesser degree or has become extinct in Denmark. The largest group, i.e. every five of all species, are forest inhabitants. In the Danish forests every third species is categorised as threatened or regionally extinct. The status also shows that specialised species living in forests and on grassland constitute the most threatened species groups.

Tinder fungus (Formes formentarius) has invaded an old beech tree at the chalk cliffs on the island of Møn, weakening the tree. The canopy of the tree collapses and leaves the trunk as a ruin. The tree may still produce viable side branches from the lower part, but the tinder fungus and other fungi as well as various species of forest-inhabiting insects decompose the tree ruin and the collapsed canopy. The bracket of the tinder fungus itself is habitat for specialised insects, among others species of fungus beetles. Photo: NERI/Peter Wind.

Jens C. Pedersen and Peter Wind

The revision of the Danish Red List, which was initiated in 2003, has now been completed. The status for the species examined shows that approx. every four of the species on which adequate data exists is categorised as threatened to a higher or lesser degree or has become extinct in Denmark. The largest group, i.e. every five of all species, are forest inhabitants. In the Danish forests every third species is categorised as threatened or regionally extinct. The status also shows that specialised species living in forests and on grassland constitute the most threatened species groups.

 On the Danish Red List is shown which species of Danish animals, fungi, and plants have become regionally extinct, which species are threatened to a greater or lesser degree, and which are not. The revision of the Danish Red List was initiated in 2003. With the launching of the 2009-status, NERI can present a complete status of the species examined. Since 2003 9,494 species have been examined. Of these 287 seem to be regionally extinct in Denmark since 1850. Of the remaining 6,746 species on which data are adequate for an assessment, 1,835 species are threatened to a higher or lesser degree, corresponding to 27%.

 2,461 species have not been assessed by the criteria of the Red List system. For three out of four species this is due to the fact that in Denmark the species are either introduced, under immigration, vagrants or casuals. As to the last fourth the available data is too poor to allow an assessment. As the species are native and possibly threatened they are included the category ‘Data Deficient’ to ensure that in future an initiative may be made to acquire new and improved data to permit an evaluation.

Status for the 9,494 species examined during the period 2003-2009. 

Species in old growth forest and grassland are the most threatened
When the assessed species are distributed on habitat classes a clear pattern emerges. In Denmark many species inhabit woodland or grassland, i.e. more than 40% of all Danish species, and of these particularly the species inhabiting old growth forests are confronted with difficulties – for the simple reason that old growth forest is a limited habitat in Denmark. Also non-forested habitats such as raised bogs and grassland host many threatened species.

Other species are those living in farmland and cities with settlements, parks, gardens etc. Here the threatened species are least represented, only a few per cent. Senior biologist Peter Wind explains the difference: “Particularly specialised species are experiencing difficulties with finding adequate habitats. The existence of non-forested grassland, which has been grazed continuously for several hundred years without use of fertilizers and pesticides, or the presence of wood under decomposition are of particular importance to many of the specialists. In contrast, species with good ability to adapt to a changing environment generally perform better. They have been able to inhabit the new habitats appearing in the cities.”

Contact: Senior biologist Peter Wind, +45 8920 1544, pwi@dmu.dk

The Danish Red List updated with 2,702 species of plants and animals (news article)

Scientific elaboration (in Danish)

The Danish Red List (in Danish)

Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentoni) in a limestone cave in Jutland. Bats constitute 29% of all mammals breeding in Denmark. 53% of the native species of bats are threatened to a higher or lesser degree, either because the colonies are very few or concentrated at a limited number of sites, e.g. the limestone caves in Jutland. Daubenton’s bats are relatively common and presumably also hibernate in considerable numbers at other habitats than limestone caves. Photo: NERI/Morten Elmeros.