Impacts Of Climate Change On Biodiversity

• We now know from our understanding of biology, ecology and other life sciences that many organisms on our planet are very sensitive to variations in temperature and will not be able to adapt to the extremely rapid changes which usually occurs over millions of years

• Many terrestrial animals are already under threat solely on the basis of temperature rise

• Approximately 20 to 30% of plant and animal species assessed so far are likely to be at increased risk of extinction if increases in global average temperature exceed 1.5 to 2.5°C6

• According to a recent study by the IUCN (October 2008) 35% of the worlds birds, 52 % of amphibians, 71 % of warm-water reef building corals are likely to be particularly susceptible to climate change

• Global warming also induces species migrations. Many species of plants and animals are already responding to global warming, moving to higher elevations or closer to the poles

• Many scientist believe that we are on the verge of a massive species extinction event which would be catastrophic and have serious consequences for us human beings. Mass extinctions of this magnitude have only occurred five times in the history of our planet; the last brought the end of the dinosaur age.

• Species in the high latitudes are particularly at early risk (loss of biodiversity will not be limited to high latitudes) as the weather in the poles (especially the North Pole) is warming up three times faster than the rest of the planet

• Species like seals and polar bears become victims of disappearing ice shelf's as they now have to swim greater distances off the coast to find food supplies

• The loss of biodiversity will be one of the most dramatic consequences of climate change. Unlike human societies which can adapt to the changes (in some parts), numerous species will simply disappear from the earth. One must remember that extinction of species is forever and cannot be reversed

• Biodiversity is a great value to our planet and should be preserved at all costs. Loosing biodiversity will not only mean a loss of beauty and diversity but also substantial economical loss in terms of commerce and potential medicines and knowledge

•.Species are already disappearing at a much greater rate then they are studied. While extinction is a natural process, human impacts have elevated the rate of extinction by at least a thousand, possibly several thousand, times the natural rate.

• We live in a complex, interlocking, symbiotic relationship with other organisms, and our ecosystem is a fragile one in which our own survival depends on those of other species

• Arguments such as economic development must prevail over the preservation of species is no longer acceptable if we are to sustain a long term healthy environment and ecosystems. There is nothing less durable and sustainable that the definitive disappearance of species from our planet. Acting to preserve them is a moral and ethical obligation for future generations.

Source of Information : Climate Change: A Silent Threat by Sylvain Richer de Forges

Impacts Of Climate Change On Biodiversity