Group: Italy's flora, fauna dwindling

ROME, May 22 (UPI) -- Italy needs to do more to save the country's animal and plant species from extinction, Italy's largest environmental group said.

''There has been a lot of progress in recent years but more energetic action is needed unless we want to see our amazing heritage of flora and fauna decimated,'' Legambiente chief Antonio Nicoletti said on World Biodiversity Day.

More than 250 Italian species are threatened, Nicoletti said -- 92 percent are animals and 8 percent are plants.

The group listed a number of land and sea creatures whose numbers are falling to "dangerous" levels, ANSA, Italy's news agency, reported Thursday.

Human activity and climate change aren't just affecting animal life, Nicoletti said. Rare plants such as the Sicilian fir, the Sardinian currant and the sea marigold need more protection as well.

"About a third of Europe's animal species and half the continent's plant species can still be found in Italy but that situation is at risk," Nicoletti said. "We've done a lot with our nature reserves, wildlife parks and wetland sanctuaries but the government needs to put more money into these areas and set up new ones."