UK’s smallest bird of prey among 200 species at risk of extinction, study finds

Researchers warn of 20-year window for decisions on climate and land use, impacting the fate of species such as the merlin. Photograph: Blickwinkel/Alamy

The merlin, Britain’s smallest bird of prey, is one of more than 200 species that will become extinct in the UK if action is not taken to curb emissions and unsustainable land use, a study has claimed.

According to the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), there is a 20-year window in which decisions on climate and land use will determine the fate of dozens of Britain’s native species.