3.1 Climate and Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, and its biological diversity. The number of species of plants, animals, micro organisms, the enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are all a part of a biologically diverse earth. Biodiversity actually boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play and that it is in this combination that enables the ecosystem to possess the ability to prevent and recover from a variety of disasters. It is feared that human activity is causing massive extinctions. The World Resource Institute reports that there is a link between biodiversity and climate change. Rapid global warming can effect an ecosystems chances to adapt naturally. Unfortunately, in the international policy arena, biodiversity loss and climate change have often moved in wholly unconnected domains.

Over the past 150 years, deforestation has contributed an estimated 30 percent of the atmospheric build-up of CO2. It is also a significant driving force behind the loss of genes, species, and critical ecosystem services. The Kyoto Protocol to the Climate Convention is significant both because of its attempt to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and because it explicitly acknowledge the role of forests in climate change. The Protocol formally recognized the dual nature of forests - as part of the problem and solution to climate change.

Climate and biodiversity - the connection :

Climate change is affecting species already threatened by multiple threats across the globe - habitat fragmentation due to colonization, logging, agriculture and mining etc. are all contributing to further destruction of terrestrial habitats.

Individual species may not be able to adapt - species most threatened by climate change have small ranges, low population densities, restricted habitat requirements and patcy distribution.

Ecosystems will generally shift nothward or upward in altitude, but in some cases they will run out of space - as 10C change in temperature corespond to a 100 Km change in latitude, hence, average shift in habitat conditions by the year 2100 will be on the order of 140 to 580 Kms.

Pollination may be disrupted - higher temperatures and earlier snowmelt may trigger earlier flowering. This could affect interactions with other species that depend on flowering plants. For example, alteration of the distribution and growing season of the Upland Larkspur could adversely impact pollinators such as broad - ailed hummingbirds and bumblebees

Bird species with limited ranges may be lost - For example, the Kirtland Warbler nests in northern Michigan, whose habitat is the declining jack pines in the region.

Melting of polar ice is causing problems for polar bears

Coral reef mortality may increase and erosion may be accelerated - in 1998 alone, 16% of the world's coral reef died from higher temperatures.. Increase level of carbon dioxide adversely impact the coral building process (calcification). Scientists estimate calcification could decline 17 to 35 % below pre-industrial levels by 2100.

Sea level may rise, engulfing low-lying areas - causing disappearance of many islands, and extinctions of endemic island species.

Whale populations may decline - significant reductions in seal ice could adversely affect the abundance of krill, the primary source of food for whales in the Southern Hemisphere.

Invasive species may be aided by climate change - exotic species can out-compete native wildlife for space, food, water and other resources, and may also prey on native wildlife.

Droughts and wildfires may increase - an increased risk of wildfires due to warming and drying out of vegetation is likely.

Sustained climate change may change the competitive balance among species and might lead to forests dieback.

Climate change induced droughts may push humans into wildlife habitat.

[Sources: IPCC 2001,Hannah,et.al 2002, Noss 2000; Pounds et.al 1999, Schneider &Root 2002, WWF 1999, EPA,WRI 1998,Pacific Institute 2000,NERA 2001, USGCRIO 2001, WEA 2000]