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Cause for concern across the Eurasian Continent
Palaearctic
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Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Celtic broadleaf forests
The climatic conditions of this ecoregion are ideal for agriculture. As a result, much of the ecoregion has been converted to fields and livestock pasture. Except for protected areas, few natural forests remain. Furthermore, introduced species have invaded the ecoregion and have begun to replace many native ones. As a result of these exotics and the loss of habitat, a number of the ecoregion's plants are endangered. Peat bogs face heightened threats as mining for peat for fuel and soil conditioner continues to increase in this ecoregion.
Palaearctic
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Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Central Anatolian deciduous forests
Most of the wetland areas in this ecoregion are threatened by irrigation, conversion to agriculture, and pollution. In addition, the damming of rivers and irrigation practices damage critical habitat in some areas. Other threats include logging, road construction, and the illegal export of wild plant bulbs and other native plant and animal species.
Palearctic
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Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Central China loess plateau mixed forests
Forests have been cleared here over the past few thousand years, but deforestation was particularly severe during the mid-20th century. This gradual conversion to agriculture has greatly contributed to recent erosion.
Palearctic
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Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Central European mixed forests
Agriculture, industrial pollution, urban development and sprawl, irrigation, damming, land reclamation, road construction, and logging are all serious threats to this ecoregion.
Palearctic
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Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Central Korean deciduous forests
Most of the low-lying plains of the Central Korean Peninsula have been converted to agriculture. Hunting has lead to the decline of wolves and crested shelducks, while habitat loss is the primary cause for the decrease in white-bellied black woodpecker populations.
Palearctic
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Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Changbai Mountains mixed forests
Logging and hunting are the two greatest threats to biodiversity in this ecoregion. The development of the tourist industry in the Changbai Mountains also constitutes a possible threat.
Palearctic
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Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Changjiang Plain evergreen forests
Forests have mostly been destroyed and replaced by rice paddies, conifer plantations, and scrub vegetation. Aquatic habitat has been converted to rice and fish farming. Conservation measures are in place at Poyang and some other large, shallow lakes, but enforcement is difficult. The Three Gorges Dam Project is the largest waterworks project in human history, scheduled for completion in 2009. It is meant to reduce flood damage downstream and to generate clean electricity, but it threatens to dramatically alter the water cycles fundamental to the ecology of lakes like Poyang and Dongting.
Palearctic
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Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Crimean Submediterranean forest complex
Like most Mediterranean ecosystems, this area has undergone a profound transformation because of agriculture and deforestation. Especially along the coast, tourism has degraded many areas through construction activity, soil compaction, and littering. The over-harvesting of local plants and human-induced forest fires are also problems.
Palearctic
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Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Daba Mountains evergreen forests
Agriculture, hunting, and collecting of wild plants and animals contribute to the loss of biodiversity in these mountains. Located in a region of thriving commerce and adjacent to the Sichuan Basin with more than 100 million people, these mountains are subject to large and increasing levels of exploitation.
Palearctic
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Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Dinaric Mountains mixed forests
The greatest threats to the Dinaric Mountains Mixed Forests ecoregion is from forestry and mining. While this ecoregion was once teeming with wolves, lynx, and bears, these and other large carnivores have been reduced greatly because of the growth in human settlements and livestock raising. In western Europe, large carnivores were almost entirely decimated about 150 years ago. Even today, these animals continue to be the targets of eradication efforts in this ecoregion.
