STRATEGIES FOR MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON BIODIVERSITY LOSS: A RESEARCH EXPLORATION

 

 

AUTHORED BY - PRIYANSHI

SAP ID: 500123295

Upes Dehradun

 

 

 

ABSTRACT

Rising rates of biodiversity loss and climate change have sparked global efforts to increase the number of protected areas (PAs). Nonetheless, efforts to concurrently address both challenges through new safeguards may be hampered by the limited spatial overlap between the landscapes with the highest value for biodiversity and those that are most significant for reducing climate change. In order to establish strategies for creating new conservation areas, it is also necessary to comprehend how properties with high conservation value fit into current patterns of land management, both public and private. Using a range of important ecological and environmental variables, we created three composite indices to determine the greatest conservation value areas in Alaska and the contiguous United States (CONUS) in order to solve these issues.

 

A third combined index simultaneously addresses both conservation challenges. Two indices identify the most significant conservation lands for addressing climate change (based on climate accessibility, climate stability, and total carbon storage) and biodiversity (based on species richness, ecological integrity, and ecological connectivity). Regardless of the index used, we found that existing PAs in the United States have relatively little overlap with the highest conservation value lands (10%–13% in the CONUS, 27%–34% in Alaska). This suggests that current protections are not as effective as they could be and that there is a significant opportunity to expand conservation into high-value, unprotected areas. The highest value areas in unprotected landscapes for mitigating climate change usually differed from those deemed most crucial for preserving biodiversity (with a 22%–38% overlap, depending on index and region). The effects of climate change provide significant obstacles for the conservation of biodiversity as it is now practiced. Even if species are protected within reserve boundaries, existing forces like habitat degradation will interact with changing temperatures and precipitation regimes to alter species ranges. In this paper, we emphasize some important concerns that need to be tackled and detail a number of current adaptation solutions for conservation.

 

With serious consequences for ecosystems and human welfare, climate change is a serious danger to biodiversity. The increasing effects of climate change, such as temperature increases, changed precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events, worsen habitat loss, interfere with biological processes, and endanger the survival of species. Several approaches that tackle the causes of climate change as well as the vulnerabilities of biodiversity are needed to mitigate these effects. The research on practical mitigation methods for the effects of climate change on biodiversity loss is summarized in this document. First and foremost, it's critical to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To slow down climate change, it is imperative to switch to renewable energy sources, improve energy efficiency, and put laws limiting carbon emissions into place. Furthermore, wetlands, mangroves, and other natural ecosystems can capture carbon and increase resilience to the effects of climate change by being preserved and restored. Reforestation and other sustainable land management techniques, such as agroforestry, are essential for reducing climate change and maintaining biodiversity. Improving adaptive capability is essential for helping ecosystems and species adjust to changing environmental circumstances. In order to promote species mobility and adaption, this entails putting conservation strategies into practice, such as habitat corridors, assisted migration, and captive breeding programs. Ecosystem-based strategies, like the creation of marine protected areas and ecosystem[1] restoration initiatives, can strengthen resistance to the effects of climate change. Furthermore, strengthening adaptive ability and promoting resilience can be achieved through incorporating traditional ecological knowledge and involving local populations in conservation initiatives. Scaling up the implementation of mitigation and adaptation methods requires strong international collaboration and effective governance. It is essential to strengthen laws, rules, and incentives that support biodiversity preservation, climate resilience, and sustainable land use. Furthermore, equitable and successful climate action depends on the mobilization of financial resources, technology transfer, and capacity-building assistance for developing nations

INTRODUCTION

Long-term, human-caused variations in local, global, or regional temperature and weather patterns are referred to as climate change. For many years, the weather and living forms have coexisted in a delicate balance that has allowed for the existence of all species on Earth. This equilibrium has been steadily shifting since the industrial revolution (1850), and it started to become noticeable in the middle of the 20th century. It now poses a serious risk to both human well-being and the continued existence of biodiversity. The two most frequent signs of climate change are an increase in the average global temperature and intense and unpredictable weather. It now understands the significance of a worldwide emergency. As stated in the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. The variety of life on Earth, in all its forms, from genes and microbes to complete ecosystems like forests or coral reefs, is known as biological diversity, or biodiversity. The result of 4.5 billion years of evolution, with increasing human influence, is the biodiversity that exists today. The web of life that provides us with food, water, medicine, a stable climate, and economic progress is made up in large part by biodiversity. Nature is the source of more than half of the world GDP. For their livelihoods, more than 1 billion people depend on trees. Furthermore, the water and land absorb over half of all carbon emissions.  However, the natural world is in peril. There is a threat to the extinction of up to one million species, many within a few decades.

The Aichi Targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations Development Programme are examples of global sustainability policies[2] that have made stopping further biodiversity loss a priority due to the growing recognition of the value of biodiversity for human society. In order to project long-term global sustainable development, it is crucial to adopt a longer perspective in addition to these political frameworks, even though they are oriented toward the near future. Finding a balance between competing demands for land to provide goods and services (e.g., food, water, timber, energy, settlements, and recreation) and protecting Earth's life-support system will become more crucial issues as we aim to reach a global population of 9–10 billion people by 2050 to achieve sustainable development.

 

Climate change affects ecosystems and species worldwide, posing a serious danger to biodiversity. The complex network of life on Earth is facing previously unheard-of difficulties due to rising temperatures, changing weather patterns, and declining habitats. Due to human-caused climate change, biodiversity loss is endangering not just the existence of many species but also the resilience of ecosystems and the welfare of human communities that depend on them. Given the seriousness of the problem, scientists, decision-makers, and environmentalists are devoting more of their attention to creating plans to lessen the effects of climate change on the loss of biodiversity. These tactics seek to maintain the priceless services that endangered species and ecosystems offer, like pollination, water purification, and carbon sequestration, in addition to safeguarding vulnerable species and ecosystems.

 

This research aims to investigate several approaches to mitigate the effects of climate change on the decline in biodiversity. We will look at both nature-based and technology-driven approaches to conservation, drawing on the most recent scientific findings and real-world projects from throughout the globe. Our exploration will encompass a wide range of strategies for preserving biodiversity, such as habitat restoration, protected area management, climate-smart agriculture, and renewable energy sources.

 

HOW IS CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTING BIODIVERSITY?

Human activity has already changed over 70% of all ice-free land. When land is converted for agriculture, some animal and plant species may lose their habitat and face extinction. However, climate change is becoming a more significant factor in the loss of biodiversity. It has altered marine, terrestrial, and freshwater ecosystems worldwide, leading to the extinction of local species, an increase in diseases, and mass plant and animal mortality, which have resulted in the first climate-driven extinctions. On land, higher temperatures have forced animals and plants to migrate to higher elevations or higher latitudes, with many moving towards the Earth's poles. Rising ocean temperatures raise the possibility of marine and coastal ecosystems disappearing permanently. For example, in the last 150 years, live coral reefs have decreased by roughly half, and more warming poses a threat to nearly all of the reefs that remain. All things considered, the health of ecosystems is impacted by climate change, which also influences changes in the distribution of animals, plants, diseases, and even human settlements. This may enhance the likelihood that viruses and diseases transmitted by animals will infect people. Reduced ecosystem services, such as the loss of food, medication, and sources of livelihood supplied by nature, can also have an impact on human health.

 

Numerous changes in ecosystems, species distributions, population dynamics, and interactions within ecological communities are being brought about by climate change, which is having a significant impact on biodiversity. These are a few of the main ways that biodiversity is being impacted by climate change:

 

Loss of Habitat and Fragmentation: As a result of climate change, some species may find their habitats no longer suited. This may result in the loss and fragmentation of habitat, which may isolate populations and lower genetic diversity, increasing the risk of extinction for certain species.

 

Distributional Shifts of Species: In an effort to find suitable habitats, many species are expanding their ranges to higher latitudes or elevations as temperatures rise. Ecosystems may be upset, and species interactions may change as a result, possibly resulting in the extinction of some species and the emergence of others.

 

Modified Phenology: The timing of biological processes including flowering, migration, and breeding can be impacted by climate change. Entire ecosystems may be affected if a species' life cycle events start to diverge from its food supplies or other important components of their surroundings.

 

Enhanced danger of Extinction: Climate change may raise the danger of extinction for species that are unable to migrate to new habitats or adapt. This is especially true for species that have specialized habitat requirements or restricted capacity for dispersal.

 

Ocean acidification: The oceans' absorption of excess carbon dioxide is causing acidification, which can be harmful to marine life, particularly to species like corals and some types of plankton that have calcium carbonate shells or skeletons.

 

Loss of Biodiversity Hotspots: Areas with high levels of endemism and species richness are known as biodiversity hotspots, and they are predicted to be disproportionately affected by climate change, which might result in the extinction of many rare and vulnerable species.

 

Increased Frequency of Extreme Weather Events: Hurricanes, droughts, floods, and wildfires are among the extreme weather events that are becoming more common and intense due to climate change. These occurrences have the potential to negatively impact biodiversity and upset ecosystems, which can lead to population decreases and habitat loss. Ecosystem services could be disrupted by biodiversity loss brought on by climate change. These services include pollination, water purification, and carbon sequestration, and they could have a significant negative impact on human welfare. It is imperative to address climate change in order to protect biodiversity and guarantee the continuous operation of ecosystems. In order to protect biodiversity from the effects of climate change, it is imperative that efforts be made to minimize the effects of greenhouse gas emissions, conserve and restore ecosystems, and support sustainable land and resource management practices.

 

 

Why is biodiversity essential for limiting climate change?

About half of the greenhouse gases produced by human activity are absorbed by land and water, with the remaining half remaining in the atmosphere. These ecosystems' natural carbon sinks, along with the biodiversity they support, offer what are known as "nature-based solutions" to climate change. Of all the nature-based alternatives, protecting, maintaining, and restoring forests, for instance, offers around two thirds of the potential for mitigation.[3] Over thirty percent of the earth is still covered in forests, despite significant and continuous losses.

Although they make up only 3% of the planet's surface, wetlands like marshes and swamps store twice as much carbon as all of the world's trees combined. Maintaining the peatlands' moisture content is essential to preventing oxidation and carbon from floating off into the atmosphere. Seagrass and mangrove habitats in the ocean have the capacity to store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at rates that can be up to four times greater than those of terrestrial forests. Mangroves are extremely helpful in the battle against climate change because of their capacity to absorb and store carbon. In order to reduce carbon emissions and prepare for an already-changing climate, it is imperative that natural areas be preserved and restored, both on land and in the ocean. Enhancing the capacity of nature to absorb emissions could help accomplish around one-third of the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions required over the next ten years.

 

As carbon sinks, biodiverse ecosystems like wetlands, oceans, and forests take in and store atmospheric carbon dioxide in biomass and soils. For example, during photosynthesis, trees take in CO2 and store it in their tissues. Higher rates of carbon sequestration are frequently correlated with greater biodiversity because diversified ecosystems are generally more productive and effective in absorbing and storing carbon. Ecosystems with greater diversity are more able to withstand shocks, especially those brought on by climate change, such as harsh weather, droughts, and temperature increases. A wide variety of species can provide functional diversity and redundancy, which can act as a buffer against ecological collapse. For instance, various fish, algae, and coral species in coral reefs each have a specific function to play in preserving the stability and health of the ecosystem.

 

The genetic diversity required for species to adjust to shifting environmental conditions is provided by biodiversity. To survive in the face of climate change, species might have to move, transform, or adjust their physiology and habits. The natural selection of features conferring resilience to changing environmental conditions is made possible by genetic diversity within species. Crop biodiversity, for instance, is crucial in agricultural systems for the creation of novel cultivars that are resilient to pests, illnesses, and shifting weather patterns. Numerous ecosystem services, such as regulating functions like pollination, water purification, and temperature regulation, are provided by biodiverse ecosystems and are crucial for human well-being. Despite being frequently overlooked these services are essential to preserving the stability of the Earth's climate system. Biodiversity improves carbon sequestration, stabilizes ecosystems, promotes adaptation and evolution, and offers priceless ecosystem services that lessen the effects of climate change, it is crucial for controlling climate change. Thus, preserving and replenishing biodiversity is essential to combating climate change and guaranteeing a sustainable future.

 

ADDRESSING THE BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE CRISES SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THEIR COLLECTIVE SOCIAL RAMIFICATIONS

BONN, June 10 — Due to human activity, unprecedented climate and biodiversity shifts have combined to pose a growing threat to the environment, human lives, livelihoods, and general well-being worldwide. Climate change and biodiversity loss are both fueled by human economic activity and reinforce one another. Unless both are addressed simultaneously, neither will be effectively handled. This is the takeaway from a workshop report that 50 of the top experts on biodiversity and climate change worldwide released today.

 

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) convened a 12-person Scientific Steering Committee.

 

"Nature and its benefits to humans, especially its capacity to lessen climate change, are becoming more and more threatened by human-caused climate change. According to Prof. Hans-Otto Pörtner, co-chair of the Scientific Steering Committee, "the warmer the world gets, the less food, drinking water, and other key contributions nature can make to our lives, in many regions." He stated, "Changes in biodiversity, in turn, affect climate, particularly through impacts on the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles." "The data is unambiguous: a sustainable future for people and the environment is still attainable, but it will need revolutionary shifts[4] accompanied by swift and extensive acts of a kind never tried before, building on aggressive emissions reductions. Halting the loss and deterioration of ecosystems rich in carbon and species, both on land and in the ocean. These ecosystems include savannahs, forests, wetlands, peatlands, and seagrass meadows; coastal ecosystems like kelp forests, mangroves, and salt marshes; deep water and polar blue carbon habitats. The study emphasizes that lowering forest degradation and deforestation can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated by humans by a significant amount, ranging from 0.4-5.8 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually.

 

The data shows that restoration is one of the easiest and least expensive natural climate mitigation strategies to put into practice. It provides much-needed habitat for plants and animals, increasing biodiversity's resilience to climate change, and has numerous other advantages like regulating flooding, protecting coastlines, improving water quality, preventing soil erosion, and guaranteeing pollination. When the needs and rights of local communities and indigenous peoples are taken into account, ecosystem restoration can also result in the creation of jobs and revenue in expanding the use of sustainable forestry and agriculture methods to boost biodiversity,[5] lower emissions, increase carbon storage, and better prepare for climate change. These consist of actions like agroforestry, agroecology, and diversity of planted crops and forest species. The paper estimates that better management of agricultural and grazing systems, including soil conservation and reduced fertilizer usage, could potentially mitigate climate change annually by 3-6 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. It helps in improving and more precisely focusing conservation efforts, in tandem with robust climate adaption and innovation. Currently, 15% of the land and 7.5% of the ocean are protected zones. A significant increase in intact and successfully protected areas is anticipated to have positive effects.

 

Between 30 and 50 percent of all ocean and land surface areas are thought to be needed for properly protected and preserved regions in order to guarantee a livable climate, self-sustaining biodiversity, and a high standard of living. These estimates are not yet fully established. More funding, enhanced administration and enforcement, and better distribution with higher interconnectivity across these places are some ways to enhance the benefits of protected areas. Beyond protected areas, conservation strategies are also highlighted, such as migration corridors, climate change adaptation planning, and improved human-nature integration to provide equitable access to and utilization of nature's resources for human benefit. Removing subsidies that encourage national and local practices that threaten biodiversity, like overfishing, overfertilization, and deforestation, can also help mitigate the effects of climate change and assist adaptation to it. Other strategies that can be employed include altering personal consumption habits, cutting down on waste and loss, and changing diets, particularly in wealthy nations, to include more plant-based options.

 

CLIMATE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION MEASURES

Monoculture planting of bioenergy crops throughout a significant portion of the land. When grown on such vast sizes, these crops harm ecosystems, decreasing the benefits that nature provides to humans and hindering the accomplishment of numerous SDGs. In addition to significant and quick decreases in emissions from fossil fuels, some bioenergy crops used to produce fuel or power on a modest scale may also enhance biodiversity and climate adaptability. Planting trees and reforestation using monocultures, particularly with alien tree species, in areas that have not historically supported forests. While there is no obvious benefit for climate adaptation, this can help mitigate the effects of climate change at the expense of biodiversity, food production, and other benefits provided by nature to humans. It can also drive out locals due to competition for land.

 

Expanding the capability of irrigation is a typical reaction to drought-adapted agricultural systems that frequently results in water conflicts, the construction of dams, and long-term soil deterioration from salinization. Any policy that concentrates too much on mitigating the effects of climate change should be assessed in light of its overall advantages and disadvantages. For example, some renewable energy sources may lead to spikes in mining activity or the consumption of substantial land. This also holds true for some technological adaptation strategies that are overly limited, such constructing sea barriers and dams. While there are significant choices for coping with and adapting to climate change, they may have unfavourable effects on the ecosystem and society, such as disrupting migratory animals or causing habitat fragmentation.

 

IS THE UN TACKLING CLIMATE AND BIODIVERSITY TOGETHER?

Two distinct international agreements, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), both created at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, are used by governments to address climate change and biodiversity. The Aichi Biodiversity Targets were agreed in 2010, and in December 2022, parties to the Biodiversity Convention adopted an agreement for nature called as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which is akin to the historic Paris Agreement made in 2015 under the UNFCCC. The framework calls for taking a broad approach to addressing global causes of biodiversity loss, such as pollution and climate change.[6]

 

In addition to saying that "this framework should work in synergy with the Paris Agreement on climate change and other multilateral agreements on forests, desertification, and oceans," the UN Secretary-General stated that "an ambitious and effective post-2020 global biodiversity framework, with clear targets and benchmarks, can put nature and people back on track." Governments gathered in Montreal, Canada, in December 2022 to decide on a new framework for securing a bold and revolutionary global plan to put humanity on a path toward coexisting with nature. Head of the UN Environment Programme Inger Andersen stated, "Delivering on the framework will contribute to the climate agenda, while full delivery of the Paris Agreement is needed to allow the framework to succeed."

 

ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN-INDUCED STRESSES (ANTHROPOGENIC)

One of the biggest problems of the twenty-first century is striking a balance between the needs of economic progress and biodiversity protection concerns. Threats was specifically included in our analysis as a component that increases the cost of conservation and ensures that the final priority ranks reflect this reconciliation. The compounding effects of urbanization and agricultural development, along with vegetation greening (a sign of greater year-round irrigation in agricultural areas) and linear infrastructure, were consistently found throughout zones. Thus, the areas with the highest levels of anthropogenic pressures were identified as urban hotspots, which include large cities, the agricultural belts of the northern semi-arid zone, the lowland plains of Northeast India, and the western and southern regions of the Deccan peninsula.

 

The demands of addressing concerns about future food security and the expected rise in the human population are indicative of places that have passed or will soon cross thresholds beyond which it may not be possible to implement interventions for sustainable land-use practices. Nonetheless, our models were unable to completely capture the wider negative effects of some human activities. These risks include those that are difficult to measure in terms of their long-term effects or that are specific to certain regions of the country, like the spread of oil palm plantations, and those are fast changing in terms of scale, extent, and affects, such as hydropower dams and unique road networks. Although future rainfall anomalies and predicted temperature rises were taken into consideration to account for the effects of climate change, the zones most likely to be affected by these threats.

 

It is still anticipated that climate change will have a substantial influence on the different ecosystems that we examined in our analysis. For instance, the distribution of biodiversity on Northeast India's floodplains may change in response to anticipated increases in the size and frequency of significant floods42. These factors highlight how crucial it is to base spatial conservation planning, like the one we did in this study, on prioritization efforts. We also point out that future changes in national and international policy are closely related to the very dynamic effects of climate on land systems.

 

THREATS

Eleven characteristics have various detrimental effects on ecosystem services, habitats, and biodiversity. They also make it more difficult to put conservation measures into practice. The densities of people and livestock, urbanization, linear infrastructure, mining, river fragmentation, agricultural growth, vegetation browning and greening (which can both have an impact on ecosystem services and biodiversity), future climate warming, and future rainfall anomalies were among them. Based on the assessors' combined field knowledge, these layers are given zone-specific weights through a consensus-building process. The threats were given different weights in each zone, which represented the relative seriousness of the repercussions in each zone for each threat zone.

 

THE LINKS BETWEEN POVERTY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY

Individuals living in poverty are particularly susceptible to the depletion of ecological services and biodiversity. Additionally, while having the lowest levels of greenhouse gas emissions, they are the ones most affected by the effects of climate change.

 

In order to address climate change, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) declares that there are "common but differentiated responsibilities." However, these accords, like the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), do not outline the approaches and techniques that signatories to each agreement are expected to employ in order to achieve their declared objectives. Impoverished people's and impoverished countries' susceptibility is largely influenced by their geographic location. Many of these nations are in drought-prone parts of sub-Saharan Africa, which is among the region’s most vulnerable to climate change. Many of the impoverished may reside in marginal areas like floodplains or at the base of unstable hillsides. Due to a lack of resources and mobility, for example, poor people also have the fewest options and the lowest ability to adapt to shocks linked to climate change, such cyclone. Natural resources and climate-sensitive industries are also major sources of income for disadvantaged nations and their citizens. Agriculture, fishing, water supply, grazing, lumber, and non-timber forest goods like food, medicine, tools, fuel, fodder, and building supplies are among them.

The livelihoods, food security, and health of the impoverished are seriously threatened by the effects of climate change and other environmental changes on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Conserving biodiversity and preserving ecosystem integrity are essential to enhancing the impoverisher’s capacity to adapt to climate change. Rich "functional diversity" ecosystems—species that play a range of distinct ecological roles—are more stable and might be more resilient to climate change than less diverse ecosystems. More variation in the gene pool will encourage the creation of genotypes more suited to changing climate circumstances.

 

MEETING THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Climate change is dealt with in MDG seven on ensuring environmental sustainability. One target set for reaching this goal to ‘integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources. Indicators for monitoring whether this target is met are as follows:

 

- Proportion of land area covered by forest

- Ratio of area protected to maintain biological diversity to surface area

- Energy use (kg oil equivalent) per US$1 GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

- Carbon dioxide emissions per capita and consumption of ozone-depleting

chlorofluorocarbons (Ozone Depleting Potential tons)

- Proportion of population using solid fuels

The emphasis on forests and protected areas is predicated on the idea that these are essential for maintaining natural resources. This ignores the importance of other landscapes and marine/water-based habitats, which frequently have higher biodiversity and greater potential to help reduce poverty. Similar to this, the emphasis on energy consumption and CO2 emissions minimizes the effects of climate change while ignoring the necessity for adaptation as a reality. The necessity for mitigation of climate change and adaptation go hand in hand; both are crucial components of the answer. Because it does not distinguish between the risks posed by interior and outdoor air pollution, the percentage of the population that uses solid fuels is likewise a poor indicator of air quality.

 

Furthermore, disputed and varying are definitions. For instance, agroforestry is not included in the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's definition of a forest, and many protected areas that are held by communities or businesses but are not recognized by national or international governments are not listed in gazettes. The debunked "dollar a day" metric is still widely used to gauge poverty, and there are still numerous outstanding technical questions regarding the best way to quantify the amount of carbon sequestered and released by forests. It would be preferable if the forest indicator included a measure of the benefits that forests provide, such as soil preservation, carbon sequestration, increased biodiversity, and support for local livelihoods.

 

RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

A) PROTECT AREAS WITH STABLE HIGH-PRECIPITATION REGIMES

The regions with the highest actual rainfall and least seasonality, like the middle and western Amazon, have the highest chance of avoiding the negative effects from these changes if the risk from climate change is linked to decreased rainfall and increased seasonality. Both historical reconstructions and climate simulations suggest that precipitation regimes in this region are stable. During "glacial epochs," past temperatures alternated between being warm and dry. Future climates will be warmer, and multiple GCMs indicate that the Amazon will be drier. The topographical features that have made the western Amazon wetter than periphery places are likely to keep the region wetter in practically any probable future, notwithstanding the disparities between past and future climates. Because of planetary rotation and its intrinsic stability, the Amazon receives the majority of its moisture from the evaporation of water vapor over the Atlantic Ocean, which is then carried into the region by the east-west trade winds. The Andean Cordillera acts as a barrier to the westward flow of humid air that forces excessive precipitation in the western Amazon, while convective circulation maintains high rainfall levels in the central Amazon. The seasonal shift of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and related monsoonal precipitation over the continent of South America are linked to the decreased precipitation and increasing seasonality at higher latitudes.

 

B.  EXPLOIT ECOTONES AS A BUFFER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

    A transition between two ecosystems at the local level or between two biomes at the continental level is referred to as an ecotone; both ideas offer ways to lessen the negative effects of climate change on biodiversity. Populations of a species that is thought to be typical of a given biome spread across continents under conditions that fall within the extremes of that species' climate; however, populations close to the ecotone may differ genetically from core populations, pre-adapting them to the physiological stress of climate change. Because climate plays a major role in defining the boundaries between biomes, some biogeographers climatic transition zones and the surrounding regions with the highest likelihood of being affected by climate change exhibit significant topographic heterogeneity. Regretfully, this area of the Amazon is also the one most vulnerable to mining, unsustainable logging, agriculture, and ranching; as a result, it will be most affected by changing land uses and more frequent droughts. Prioritizing conservation at the local, regional, and continental levels should be based on knowledge of how habitat spatial layout and landscape structural elements might ameliorate climate change. er to the ecotones at the continental scale as climatic transition zones. 

 

C.    INCORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL GRADIENTS IN CONSERVATION CORRIDORS

Although it is now known that conservation corridors may also serve to alleviate the effects of climate change, its primary justification has always been to lessen the effects of habitat fragmentation, prevent local extinction events, and stop the genetic degeneration of populations. Environmental gradients with enough natural habitat to support the creation of land-use mosaics that preserve functional habitat connectivity are characteristics of conservation corridors. There are dangers and opportunities for conservation associated with both short and acute gradients as well as large and diffuse ones. While populations that occur across diffuse gradients may have the genetic plasticity to allow them to adjust to the climate change, sharp gradients may allow species to move ranges across relatively short geographical distances.

 

Although latitude and height are two clearly visible large-scale gradients, they are exacerbated by additional smaller-scale environmental elements. In essence, the latitudinal gradient is a gradient caused by precipitation; however, it is exacerbated by other gradients connected to longitude, such as soil fertility[7] and geomorphology. Compared to the southwest Amazon, whose proximity to the Andes will maintain precipitation near current levels, the southeast Amazon will be under more serious stress. Near the Andes, soils typically have a larger sand component and are more productive. Additionally, the landscape is broken up by geological features that increase the effect of precipitation. On the lowland landscapes of the northern Amazon, similar climatic and edaphic interactions exist, but are further complicated by weather patterns that originate over the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean.

Human disturbance has an impact on the montane gradients, especially at the ecotone where grasslands and cloud forests meet, as fire may limit the upward dispersal of cloud forest species. Semi-arid habitats (puna) are found above wet grasslands in the central Andes. These habitats eventually give way to rock fields where the growth of bryophytes and grasses is restricted by the availability of water caused by extended freezing.

 

D.   MITIGATE THE IMPACTS FROM TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS

Governments across South America have made infrastructure development a top priority, and plans for transportation projects would drastically alter the Amazon. Two parallel lanes would link the middle Amazon with the Caribbean, while transcontinental highways will cross the Andean piedmont from southern Peru to Colombia and the southern Amazon. In the Core Amazon, hydrocarbon extraction is expanding quickly as pipelines make isolated areas accessible for habitation and migration. The development of secondary roads that accompany the expansion of these transportation corridors will result in widespread deforestation belts, effectively dividing the Amazon into large, isolated forest blocks and impeding the ability of species to shift their ranges or survive long enough to adapt physiologically to climate change. The ensuing rise in agricultural, mineral, and biofuel production will necessitate the construction of rivers, which will fracture and change aquatic ecosystems. The influence of infrastructure investments on global warming, such as the effect of deforestation on greenhouse gas emissions, is not assessed by the current environmental evaluation methodology. While the majority do call for an assessment of conservation tactics, they do not take into account the ways in which conservation corridors can lessen the combined effects of habitat loss, large-scale fragmentation, and climate change on the distribution of species.

 

CONCLUSION

Through altering the energy and water cycles, as well as the intake and generation of aerosols and gases that are radiatively active, species and their environments play a part in regulating the climate system. Up until now, conservation efforts have not given much thought to this crucial function. However, with its recent recognition, conservation efforts must now better align with climate goals and evaluate where such alignment would be possible, pertinent, and non-conflicting. Numerous conservation initiatives aimed at stopping, slowing down, or even reversing biodiversity loss can also slow down human-caused climate change. In particular, we found direct co-benefits in 14 of the 21 action targets of the CBD's post-2020 global biodiversity framework, despite the indirect connections that can also help with climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation. Restoring ecosystems, particularly high-carbon ecosystems like seagrass meadows, mangroves, and forests, and avoiding deforestation are two of the conservation measures with the most potential to reduce climate change. According to our data, conservation efforts typically result in more mutually beneficial outcomes than adversarial trade-offs when it comes to mitigating climate change.

 

The evidence basis for evaluating the synergies between protection of biodiversity, mitigating climate change, other NCP, and a high quality of life needs to be regularly consolidated and gathered. These synergies are rarely assessed in an integrated manner. The creation of fully integrated indicators, models, and scenarios would be highly beneficial for assessing the synergies between climate change and biodiversity. This would also help with decision-making for mainstreaming and implementing ecosystem-based integrative approaches, while acknowledging the multi-use and multi-function nature of landscapes. To successfully undertake joint biodiversity and climate initiatives, it is imperative to enhance the links between the various scales of interventions. International goals and targets, such as those pertaining to climate change adaptation and mitigation, can serve as a source of inspiration, guidance, and prioritization for locally driven biodiversity conservation efforts.

 

Many regions with significant biodiversity also have high rates of carbon sequestration at the landscape or seascape level. The generally beneficial relationship between mitigating climate change and conserving biodiversity is not without exceptions, though. Taking into account different biomes, ecosystem uses, and sectoral relationships can have a significant impact on realizing synergistic advantages. creating win-win synergies and managing the trade-offs between climate and biodiversity in every little area of a landscape or seascape may be unachievable, but at the landscape level, creating synergies gets easier and easier. Thus, in mixed-use land and seascapes, local to global policies and practices aimed at biodiversity protection and climate change mitigation should be taken into account in an integrated and inclusive manner to ensure win-win synergies and nature's contribution.

 

The study emphasizes how changes in temperature patterns have a direct impact on ecosystems and species viability, highlighting the complex link between biodiversity loss and climate change. It emphasizes how crucial it is to deal with both problems at the same time in order to accomplish successful mitigation. The study emphasizes how crucial it is to strengthen ecosystems' and species' resilience and adaptive ability in order to endure the effects of climate change. To protect biodiversity from the effects of climate change, methods including ecosystem-based adaptation, aided migration, and habitat restoration are essential.

 

Examining the Causes of Biodiversity Loss: In addition to climate change, the investigation identifies a number of causes of biodiversity loss, such as habitat degradation, overexploitation, pollution, and invasive species. To stop the reduction in biodiversity, effective mitigation solutions need to address these factors in their entirety. In order to maintain biodiversity in the face of climate change, conservation initiatives such as managed protected areas, species conservation, and sustainable land-use practices are essential. These tactics enhance ecosystem resilience and trap carbon, protecting sensitive species and their habitats while also helping to mitigate the effects of climate change.

 

The necessity of strong policy frameworks and international cooperation is crucial for effective mitigation of climate change and biodiversity loss, as these issues are transboundary. Enforcing regulations, allocating resources effectively, and implementing adaptive management strategies all require global, regional, and local collaboration. The success of mitigation techniques depends on including local communities in conservation efforts and incorporating indigenous knowledge systems. Indigenous peoples frequently have important traditional knowledge and skills that can support the preservation of biodiversity and the adaptation to climate change.

 

The study's investigation concludes by highlighting the necessity of swift and coordinated action to lessen the effects of climate change on biodiversity loss. Through the implementation of a comprehensive strategy that incorporates adaptation, conservation, sustainable practices, policy reform, and community participation, we may endeavour to protect biodiversity in the face of climate change for both current and future generations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REFERENCES

1. United States Agency International Development (USAID), 2023

https://www.usaid.gov/biodiversity/photo-contest

1. Sustainable Development Goals, 2021: Tackling Biodiversity & Climate Crises Together and Their Combined Social Impacts

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2021/06/tackling-biodiversity-climate-crises-together-and-their-combined-social-impacts/

1. World Economic Forum, agenda (2023): Biodiversity loss and tackle climate change

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/biodiversity-loss-climate-change-davos23-orsted/

1. United Nation: Climate Action, (2021): Biodiversity - our strongest natural defense against climate change https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biodiversity
2. IPCC: Climate change: a threat to human well being and health of the planet. Taking action now can secure our future, (2022) https://www.ipcc.ch/2022/02/28/pr-wgii-ar6/
3. https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b47fd-new-measures-to-tackle-pollution-biodiversity-loss-and-climate-impacts-on-irelands-seas/
4. Emissions Gap Report 2021: The Heat Is On — A World of Climate Promises Not Yet Delivered (UNEP, 2021) https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2021.
5. Climate Portal: Mitigation and Adaptation (2020)

https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/mitigation-and-adaptation

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Almut Arneth

[2] United States Agency International Development (USAID), 2023

https://www.usaid.gov/biodiversity/photo-contest

 

[3] Sustainable Development Goals, 2021: Tackling Biodiversity & Climate Crises Together and Their Combined Social Impacts

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2021/06/tackling-biodiversity-climate-crises-together-and-their-combined-social-impacts/

 

[4] World Economic Forum, agenda (2023)

[5] United Nation: Climate Action, 2021

[6] IPCC: Climate change: a threat to human wellbeing and health of the planet. Taking action now can secure our future, (2022)

[7] 7.Emissions Gap Report 2021: The Heat Is On — A World of Climate Promises Not Yet Delivered (UNEP, 2021)