Summary of results

4.127 species are classified as red-listed, of which 212 are categorised as Critically Endangered, 634 as Endangered, 1 096 as Vulnerable, 1.440 as Near Threatened, 521 as Data Deficient and 224 species are Regionally Extinct.

Positive development for many mammals, birds and amphibians

Wolves, bears, wolverines and lynxes have a better status and thereby a lower Red List category compared to 2005. Many species have become red-listed due to significant population reductions, e.g. the common eider, the European herring gull, the black guillemot, the common sandpiper and the common swift, all of which are now listed in the category Near Threatened.

Bleak situation for Swedish fish

Six fish species are new on the list, for example the Atlantic wolffish (Critically Endangered), whiting (Vulnerable) and burbot (Near Threatened). The spiny dogfish is now Critically Endangered. The European eel is still Critically Endangered and the Atlantic cod is Endangered, despite positive developments in the Baltic Sea for Atlantic cod. The high trawling pressure in combination with sedimentation and eutrophication are damaging the marine benthos. It is generally considered that the marine environment, including the Baltic Sea’s estuarine water, has had the worst development.

Development of fresh water species has been generally positive

The relatively good status of fresh water species is due to improved water quality and conservation measures such as the creation of new wetlands and ponds. However, an increased browning of water is a cause of concern for certain species, e.g. freshwater algae.  The European crayfish has been greatly affected by the crayfish plague and is now Critically Endangered.

Worse situation for many insects, fungi and lichens

Many populations of butterflies and wasps have declined due to the reduced availability of pollen and nectar-producing plants and the lack of unfertilized meadows.

The changes in the regulatory system for agricultural subsidies, especially in the definition of pastures within farm subsidies, has led to extensive clearing of valuable trees and shrubs in many natural pasture lands, which has had a negative impact on many insects, fungi and lichens.

In Northern Sweden vast areas of old forest with long continuity are still being cleared, which is affecting many fungi, mosses, lichens and wood-living insects.

Many common trees on the list

The spread of Dutch elm disease and ash dieback has caused significant population reductions of elm and ash that have now become red-listed, as well as a number of species associated to these tree types. In many places infested trees are cut down despite the fact that this does not slow down the spread of disease and directly affects those species associated to the tree.