Global Scans · Species · Weekly Summary

• [New] Roughly one million of the planet's estimated eight million plant and animal species face extinction risks. DataDrivenInvestor
• [New] The closure of the strait of Hormuz has created conditions for an extreme global biodiversity threat, with scientists warning that thousands of stranded ships could spread invasive marine species across the world's oceans once they begin sailing again. The Guardian
• [New] Tree and woodland cover across England will have reached 16.5%, including productive softwoods and broadleaf species. GOV.UK
• [New] India plans to convert Prosopis juliflora, among the world's top 100 invasive species, into green methanol for marine fuel, linking ecological control with clean energy. UnderStand UPSC
• The current rate of species extinction is estimated to be 100 to 1,000 times higher than the natural background rate, prompting scientists to warn that the Earth may be on the brink of a sixth mass extinction. DataDrivenInvestor
• Economic systems centered on continuous growth are accelerating global biodiversity loss, with roughly one million of the planet's estimated eight million plant and animal species facing extinction risks. DataDrivenInvestor
• More than 48,000 species are currently at risk of extinction, and assessments suggest that close to half of all migratory species are in decline. Awareness Days
• Over one-third of plants and animals in the US are at risk of extinction, in large part due to human activities that destroy habitat, overexploit and kill species, pollute water systems, and speed up climate change. Sierra Club
• As with many other insect species, butterflies and moths in the U.S. are experiencing significant declines: 19% are at risk of extinction - including species with special habitat needs and generalist species that were once widespread. Xerces Society
• The Global Picture: Species Under Threat The IUCN Red List has now evaluated more than 172,600 species, a remarkable scientific achievement that nonetheless covers only around 2% of Earth's estimated 8.7 million eukaryotic species. Pixcellence
• Invasive species pose a significant threat to global biodiversity, and among them, Xenopus laevis, the African clawed frog - most often escaped or deliberately released from laboratory stocks - has emerged as a concern in several European countries. Biodiversa +
• State officials in New York track a wide range of invasive insects that pose risks to agriculture and ecosystems, including species like the spotted lanternfly, emerald ash borer and Japanese beetle. FOX 5 New York
• The U.S. Interior Department on Friday canceled a rule meant to protect plants and animals that are determined to be threatened with extinction, the latest step by President Donald Trump's administration to dismantle key provisions of the landmark Endangered Species Act at the behest of industry. WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando
• Although most of the 14 insect species are projected to benefit from larger areas of suitable climate in Canada over the next 20 years, there are interesting exceptions: European oak borer, brown spruce longhorned beetle, and winter moth. Center for Invasive Species Prevention
• Canada's central boreal forest is at lower risk both in terms of exposed tree biomass and number of invasive insect species present. Center for Invasive Species Prevention
• The rediscovery of the Bolivian killifish is a case in point: the survival of certain species indicates pockets of critical ecosystem service value that, if lost, might trigger rapid collapse. Shaping Tomorrow
• One weak but notable signal is the rediscovery of a species considered extinct: a Bolivian killifish, found alive amid a critical biodiversity hotspot threatened by deforestation. Shaping Tomorrow

Last updated: 03 August 2026