Environment Japan's sparrows on brink of endangered status

According to the report released on 1 October by the ministry and the Nature Conservation Society of Japan, the population of 15% of avian species and 33% of butterfly species inhabiting "satoyama" secondary forests close to human settlements has been decreasing at an annual rate of 3.5% or more. Suppose the pace of decline continues for a long time. In that case, sparrows and other birds, as well as butterflies commonly seen in human neighbourhoods, may reach the criteria of being labelled as endangered species under the ministry's Red List. The findings came after the ministry and the conservation group conducted fixed-point observations of the status of animals and plants across the country. Satoyama is part of areas known as "satochi-satoyama," which lie midway between pristine nature and urban locations and consist of farmlands, irrigation ponds, secondary forests and grasslands, providing a space for people's living.

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