Defenders' Experts
Climate Change: Wildlife's Silent Threat
The impacts of climate change – changes in precipitation, temperature, sea level, and polar ice – are affecting plants and animals around the world. There is no longer any question “if climate change is occurring” – it is.
Scientists from around the world have documented its pervasive influence and have shown that human activity – burning fossil fuel in our cars and coal in our power plants to generate electricity, and cutting down forests or draining wetlands – are clearly the major causes for its increase. The question now is: “What can we do to minimize its impacts?”
For many species, climate change has become the greatest threat to their survival because changes in seasonal and weather patterns are altering environmental and behavioral responses. Species that are very specialized, rare, or those with very limited ranges, are less able to adapt to change and thereby more vulnerable to extinction.
Every species has a “tipping point” – a set of conditions which, if exceeded, will push it to extinction. Some rare species may already have reached this point while others may soon follow without our efforts to intervene and save them.
Wildlife managers must now explore new approaches and strategies to manage the broader landscape as well as wildlife populations if we are to help species survive and adapt to these changes.
Addressing the impacts of climate change may very well be the greatest challenge and moral obligation facing humanity this century. Because impacts of climate change are already occurring and will continue well into the century, wildlife need our help now.
Learn more about climate change and the impacts on wildlife and habitats.
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