North of Germany, the Halligen archipelago is one of Europe’s last ornithological sanctuaries, home to numerous bird species, including several threatened with extinction.
According to RFI, these ten small islands are now at risk due to rising sea levels, a direct consequence of climate change. This threat endangers the local biodiversity, which is particularly fragile.
The protection of natural areas like the Halligen will be a central topic at the COP17 biodiversity conference, scheduled to take place in Yerevan, Armenia, from October 19 to 30, 2026. Negotiators will need to consider ways to halt the decline of species, with one in eight currently threatened with extinction.