FlutterBy: European butterflies might face extinction if global temperatures continue to rise as predicted over the next 70 years, a new study said. In the worst-case scenario, 95 per cent of the land will become too warm for 70 butterfly species if the average temperatures rise by 4.1o C by 2080. Even the migration of these colourful insects to the north to cooler climes might be hindered by habitat destruction such as deforestation.
Mine threatens birds: Mining of oil sands in Canada could reduce the region's migratory bird population by almost half, according to a study by US and Canadian environmental groups. About half of migratory birds visiting North America nest in Canada's boreal forest, a part of which is in the province of Alberta. The forest sits on oil sands that contain oil reserves, second only to Saudi Arabia's. Oil sand mining projects proposed in Alberta aim to pump US $2.4 trillion into Canada's economy between 2010 and 2030.
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