The study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution journal, underscores the urgency of integrating climate mitigation with biodiversity conservation to safeguard ecosystems.
Key Findings of the Study
- Compounding Threats: 36% of land vertebrate habitats will be exposed to multiple extreme climate events (heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, and floods) by 2085.
- Heatwaves as the Primary Threat: Projected to expose 93% of species' geographic ranges by 2085, followed closely by extreme wildfires.
- Taxonomic Vulnerability: Amphibians are the most severely affected group, particularly by droughts.
- Furthermore, native species and those with restricted geographic ranges face heightened extinction risks due to their limited flexibility to relocate to safer areas.
- Geographical Hotspots: The species-rich Amazon basin, Africa, and Southeast Asia face the highest exposure to these compounding hazards.
Global Initiatives for conservation of Terrestrial Biodiversity
- UNFCCC & Paris Agreement: Aim to limit global warming and reduce climate-induced biodiversity risks.
- IPCC recommendations : Emphasize protecting 30-50% of ecosystems for resilience.(Sixth Assessment Report )
- IUCN Red List & FAO’s One Planet, One Health Initiative: Guides conservation prioritisation for at-risk species facing climate-driven extinction.
- Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022): Under Convention on Biological Diversity, it targets protection of 30% of land and oceans by 2030 (30x30 goal).
- UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030): Promotes restoration of degraded habitats, improving species' resilience and adaptive capacity.
