Characateristic heathland fauna species declining

The populations of a number of fauna species mainly found in heathland areas have decreased by about 65 percent since 1990. The species affected are mainly birds and butterflies. Numbers of reptiles, amphibians and dragonflies are stable or increasing slightly. The main causes of the population decline are the increasing areas of forest and grassland in heathland and dehydration. Species that favour open dry heathland, such as the wheater, have decreased. 
Adders are not affected by the increase in grassy and wooded areas. Some dragonfly species which inhabit pools ad ponds are also increasing. These increases may also be a result of the increase in temperatures.

Development of characteristic heathland species