The health of the United Kingdom ecosystems continues to worsen or remain unchanged, rather than improve, according to the latest biodiversity indicators released for 2025. The findings raise fresh concerns about the long-term future of wildlife across the country, even as scientists point to small signs that some declines may be slowing.
The biodiversity indicators, produced annually since 2007, measure the UK progress towards national and international conservation targets. They track long-term and short-term trends in animal and plant species, habitat condition and pressures on nature. This year’s report has been published by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee in collaboration with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Scientists from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, played a major role in analysing the data for the 2025 report. According to Dr Francesca Mancini, an ecological modeller at the centre, the results show that while biodiversity loss remains widespread, there are limited indications that some declines may be beginning to level off.
She said most of the indicators assess whether groups of species are improving, deteriorating or showing little change over time. Long-term trends typically span the full period since monitoring began, while short-term trends focus on the last five years. The majority of indicators continue to show deterioration over the long term, but several of those same indicators now show little or no change in the most recent five-year period.
“This is not a completely positive picture,” Dr Mancini said. “However, the fact that some declines appear to be slowing suggests there are small glimmers of hope.”
The report draws on data from around 100 organisations, including government bodies, research institutions, conservation charities and citizen science programmes. One of the largest contributors is the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, run by the Dorset-based charity Butterfly Conservation.
Data from the scheme shows that since monitoring began in 1976, 31 of the UK’s 59 regularly recorded butterfly species have experienced population declines. Butterflies are considered important indicators of wider ecosystem health because they are highly sensitive to environmental changes such as habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change.
Dr Mancini stressed that the entire monitoring system relies heavily on volunteers. Thousands of people across the country collect data each year, providing scientists with the information needed to track changes in wildlife populations. Without this contribution, she said, researchers would be “completely flying blind”.
She also encouraged the public to play a role in supporting biodiversity. Simple actions such as monitoring pollinators in spring, leaving water out for birds, creating insect habitats or using window boxes for plants can all make a difference. For those without gardens, she suggested joining local community initiatives that aim to make shared green spaces more wildlife-friendly.
While the 2025 indicators underline that biodiversity loss remains a serious and ongoing challenge in the UK, scientists say sustained conservation efforts, combined with public involvement, could still help prevent further long-term damage to ecosystems.