How to protect biodiversity and ecosystems from extinction by 2050

By 2050, many species are at risk of extinction.
A new research paper from the University of Michigan is the first to demonstrate how climate change, water stress, and water pollution can all affect the health and resilience of our world’s wildlife and ecosystems.
The paper, “Climate change, ecosystem health, and species resilience: the case for an integrated management approach,” was published in the journal PLOS ONE on March 17, 2016.
This is the third article in the series on the topic, the first being “Conservation of biodiversity and the ecosystem” by the World Wildlife Fund in 2015 and the second being “Crop Loss and Climate Change” by WWF International in 2018.
The new study, “A comprehensive model of ecosystem health and recovery from climate change,” highlights the fact that “climate change and related climate stresses are projected to have a significant impact on wildlife and biodiversity” by 2050.
“Our results suggest that we should incorporate a holistic approach to the conservation of biodiversity in order to protect ecosystems and species from future loss,” said study author Joshua H. Smith, Ph.
D., professor of biological sciences in the Department of Environmental Engineering and Environmental Science.
“A holistic approach would include planning for climate change-related threats and adaptive measures, and incorporating the knowledge of current knowledge in order for management strategies to be effective.”
“In many cases, the best solution for conservation is to act quickly, even if it means changing management strategies,” Smith added.
The researchers analyzed a range of factors related to wildlife populations, climate, water and soil quality, and land use to predict changes in populations, food supply, and ecosystem health.
Their model predicts the impact of climate change on the health of a wide variety of species and plants, from native species to invasive species.
For example, there are many species that are at increased risk from climate changes such as drought, wildfires, and heavy rainfall, and there are species that will likely be impacted more severely.
“In general, there is a decrease in populations of some species in response to climate change.
However, some species are already declining,” Smith said.
“Some species are not likely to be able to recover in response, such as the black-footed ferret (Acanthocephalus californicus), which is already under severe stress due to climate changes.”
The paper also found that ecosystems are resilient to climate extremes such as heat, drought, and floods.
For instance, many of the species that live in and depend on agricultural land are able to survive and recover after extreme heat and cold events.
“We also find that the effects of climate changes are much stronger for large-scale terrestrial ecosystems than for smaller terrestrial ecosystems,” Smith noted.
“These results show that large- scale terrestrial ecosystems are more resilient to extreme events and are not at risk from extreme climate changes,” Smith concluded.
“It is imperative that we use our collective knowledge and expertise to help address this challenge.”
To learn more about climate change and the impact on our planet’s wildlife, visit www.nextbigfuture.org/climate.
The article is available at: https://www.biostatistics.org/?content=1088&title=A comprehensive global model of wildlife and ecosystem sustainability from 2050.