Download impact of climate change on biodiversity – problems faced by

Convention on Migratory Species
United Nations Environment Programme
IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON
BIODIVERSITY – PROBLEMS FACED BY
MIGRATORY SPECIES?
Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary, UNEP/CMS Secretariat
Session 21
20 August 2010
7th UNEP-Joensuu University Course on International Environmental Law-Making and
Diplomacy
Joensuu, Finland, 15-24 August 2010
Overview of the Presentation
• How does climate change impact or
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affect biodiversity conservation especially
migratory species?
Are existing global regimes able to
provide mechanisms for adaptation?
Impact of climate change on biodiversity
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Increasing temperatures
Changes in precipitation
Extreme weather
Sea level rise
Ocean acidification
Changes in ocean circulation
Other spatial and temporal responses
Exacerbation of existing threats
What Climate Change could do…
Predicted Climate Change
Temperature rises by more than 1.5 2.5 C
Possible Impact
Estimated 20-30% of plant and animal
species at increased extinction risk
C rise in global
temperatures
Reduces suitable habitat of birds that
breed at high elevation by more than
50%
Rise in sea surface temperature of
approximately 1-3°C
Coral bleaching = loss of entire species
communities (already seeing 40%
decline in phytoplankton!)
Credit: Todd LaJeunesse, Penn State, October 2005
Summary of predicted climate effects on species
Source: Foden, Mace et al. 2009 IUCN
Animal migration is closely linked to climatic factors
• Opportunistic adaptation: directly and indirectly driven by climatic
conditions
• Migratory species take advantage of seasonal feeding and/or breeding
opportunities
• Or move to avoid unfavourable climatic conditions
Wildebeest migration in
search of optimal
vegetation (rain…)
On land: species shifts already happening
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Many hoofed animals’ migratory patterns are often directly affected by rainfall and
vegetation growth – Western African Manatee & Ganges River Dolphin
Already seeing shifts in species ranges towards the poles and migration patterns (this
often results in range state changes) – Common Dolphin, a warmer water specie
increases its range while White-beaked Dolphin range is reducing
Increased/prolonged drought is predicted to lead to population declines – Sahel
drought of late 1960s decreased Whitethroat Warbler to 25% of what they were once
Increased desertification (Sahara) adversely affects ability of Afro-European migrants to
cross this ecological barrier successfully
Blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)
Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica)
Case study: Sahelo-Saharan Antelopes
Dama Gazelle – Narger Dama
Migration northwards during wet season and
southwards in the dry season
It feeds on plants such as desert shrubs, acacias
and even rough, desert grasses for water.
Increasing drought will make large parts of the
habitat unsuitable for the species… Where will
they migrate to in increasingly fragmented
habitats?
Instruments to protect the species:
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: Critically Endangered (Criteria: A2cd) (Population Trend: Decreasing)
CMS: Sahelo-Saharan Antelopes Concerted Action
Appendix I
CITES Appendix I
In the water: marine species in trouble
Marine environment particularly sensitive to changes in the atmosphere
CO2
Ocean acidification
threatens coral reefs and organisms
that are made of calcite (e.g. krill)
Prediction: In the coming century only the top 600m of the oceans will be suitable for the
formation of calcium carbonate (calcite); today: at 4km depth this is still feasible!
Reduction of sea ice (impact on breeding habitat –seals, resting small number of stopover
sites – Lesser White-fronted Goose ) all have shown to lead to lower reproductive rates
Rise in sea-surface
temperature
Bad news: 40% decline
in phytoplankton since
1950
Boyce et al. (2010), Nature 466: 591-596.
Case study: Polar bear & ringed seal
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Ocean acidification causing loss of sea-ice due to increasing temperatures
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Reduces food resources & less breeding habitat, less hunting habitat (for marine
mammals, eg:
polar bears)
Decline in Seals, Whales, Marine Turtles, Narwhal & Polar Bears in the Arctic
Instruments to protect the species:
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008:
Polar Bear: Vulnerable (Population Trend:
Decreasing)
Ringed Seal: Least Concern
Polar Bear – Ursus
Polar Bear Protection Act 1969
MaritimusUS Endangered Species Act 2008
Ringed Seal - Pusa hispida
In the air: birds are well-studied
We are seeing the following as climate gets warmer:
Birds arriving earlier (Pied Flycatcher) & nesting earlier – Changing time of migration
Shifts in migration routes – birds migrate from winter sites earlier to arrive at
breeding habitat with inadequate food supply (insects) to refuel
Species ranges shrink, expand – some species stop migrating!
Species at the edge of their range particularly threatened
•84% of migratory birds affected by climate change (Robinson et al. 2005)
From: Climatic Atlas of European Breeding
birds (2008)
Earlier arrival dates
of pied flycatchers
Shifting ranges of 60% of US birds studied
While many of these are
not migratory, the overall
picture is the same for
migratory birds.
Long-distance migrants are
particularly vulnerable
Long-distance migrants are more vulnerable than short-distance migrants, because –
while away at their distant wintering grounds – they cannot predict when spring starts at the
breeding habitats!
Some birds have difficult to adapt their migration patterns as they are dependent on
endogenous clocks
This “mismatching” is already leading to bird species declines!
•Many long-distance trans-Saharan songbirds are affected.
Adaptive potential at the limit
• In the past (e.g. last ice age) many migratory species have successfully
adapted to climate change
• Today: species exposed to multiple threats
• Speed of climate change is such that many populations are reaching
the limit of their adaptive potential
• Migratory species depend on many habitats, often across biomes,
making them particularly vulnerable
• Only few short & average distance migrants – Black cap- have
succeeded to adapt
Summary of biological changes
currently being observed
• Loss of breeding/wintering/critical stopover habitat
• Timing of migration & reproduction: earlier onset
• Changing sex ratio: Temp of 29.2C produce 50:50 sex ratio .
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Beyond that lead to their feminization – sea turtles, birds, fish
Ranges: shrinking, expanding, shifting
Migratory routes: shortening, elongation
Direction of species shifts: mostly, but not always in a northerly
direction!
Geography: Arctic and other species at the edge of their range
particularly affected
Do MEAs address Climate Change Impacts?
• Major MEAs for species conservation where adopted a
century ago embodying ad hoc, fragmented approach –
species/sites already endangered – inherently reactive
• Ramsar Wetlands Convention, 1971
• World Heritage Convention, 1972
• CITES, 1973
• Convention on Migratory Species, 1979
• Calls for proactive & holistic approaches led to
precautionary and ecosystem approaches through:
• Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992
• Later approaches adopted in national laws & policies
Biodiversity Conservation &
Climate Change
• UNFCCC provide limited guidance for biodiversity
adaption
• UNFCCC prescribes taking precautionary measures to
mitigate effects of CC & calls for national/regional
programmes to facilitate adaptation to CC
• Neither UNFCCC nor Kyoto Protocol specifically addresses
adaptation of species & ecosystems. Neither current texts
MEAs within the Biodiversity Liaison Group
UNEP/Montreal
CBD and Cartagena
Protocol
UNEP/Geneva
CITES
Trade
Programmes of Work
Appendices I-III
Marine and Coastal
Biodiversity
Inland waters
Biodiversity
Mountain
Biodiversity
IUCN/Gland
Ramsar Convention
Forest
Biodiversity
UNEP/Bonn
AEWA
Waterbirds
The Ramsar List
UNESCO/Paris
Monaco
ACCOBAMS
Small/large Cetaceans
WHC
Protected Areas
UNEP/Bonn
ASCOBANS
Small Cetaceans
World Heritage Site
Agricultural
Biodiversity
FAO/Rome
ITPGRFA
Interesting fact: There are more
than 155 treaties addressing
biodiversity…
Regional Agreements
Hobart
ACAP
Albatrosses and Petrels
Wetlands
Dry and Sub-humid
Lands
Island
Biodiversity
UNEP/Bonn
CMS
Migratory Species
Plant Genetic Resources
Multilateral System
UNEP/Bonn
EUROBATS
Bats
UNEP/Wilhelmshaven
Wadden Sea Agreement
The Common Seal
UNEP/Bonn
Gorilla Agreement
All Species of Gorilla
RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands
• Wetlands (e.g. mangroves, floodplains) are vital for CC
adaptation: Reduce the impact of increased rainfall,
storms, glacier melting, even sea level rise.
• Conservation & wise use of wetlands enables species
to adapt to CC by providing connectivity, corridors &
flyways along which they can move.
• Protection of unfragmented wetlands will buffer
species & ecosystems against extreme weather events.
Therefore: More RAMSAR sites are needed!
Convention on Biological Diversity
• CBD itself does not explicitly address CC adaption like
other MEAs does so through COP decisions, such as,
urging Parties to:
• Take measures to manage ecosystems so as to
maintain their resilience to extreme climate events
& help to mitigate & adapt to CC
• cooperate regionally in activities aimed at
enhancing habitat connectivity across ecological
gradients to enhance ecosystem resilience
• facilitate migration & dispersal of species with
limited tolerance to altered climatic conditions.
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)
• Aim at conservation of migratory species of wild animals
• Through various legal tools:
• Species listings (Appendix I, II)
• Regional legally binding agreements
• Several non-legally binding MOUs for specific species
CMS Family
Houbara
Bustard
Asia
CMS Memoranda of Understanding
Marine Turtles
Siberian Crane
1993
Slender-billed Curlew
1995
Marine Turtles
Atlantic Coast of Africa
1999
Ind. Ocean / S-E Asia
Bukhara Deer
2002
Aquatic Warbler
2003
Western African
Elephant
2005
South Pacific
Island Cetaceans
2006
Saiga Antelope
2006
West African
Cetaceans
2007
Monk Seal
2007
Dugong
2007
Ruddy H Goose
2007
South-American
Grassland
Bird 2007
African-Eurasian
Raptors
2008
Andean Flamingos
2008
Sharks
2010
Pacific Island Marine
Turtles
Central Asian
Flyway
Concluded / In Force
2000
Great Bustard
2000
In Preparation
Recent study has assessed the vulnerability of
migratory species to climate change
Each species evaluated against 4 risk factors:
1. Vulnerability of habitat/s
Resilience to change
Climatic changes projected for habitat
area.
Impact that projected changes will have
upon the habitat.
2. Ecological flexibility and adaptation
potential
– Degree of specialisation
– Environmental triggers and phenological
cues
– Evidence of adaptation in the past
– Dispersal ability
– Reproduction rate and resilience:
Climate related changes to fecundity or
reproductive success
3. Vulnerability of species interactions
Changing dynamics of predator/ prey/
competitor interactions
Impacts upon mutualisms/ symbiosis.
4. Interactions with other threat processes
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Habitat loss/ fragmentation
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Exploitation
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Disease
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Invasive species
Key outcomes
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Marine turtle species listed on Appendix I are
predicted to be highly vulnerable to climate
change: combined impacts of sea level rise,
increased temperatures and extreme
weather events alongside negative impacts
of current anthropogenic threats.
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Plankton and krill feeding whales on
Appendix I are predicted to be highly
vulnerable to climate change: combined
impacts of ocean acidification, changes in
ocean circulations and polar ice melt.
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All species studied listed on Appendix I which
are also Critically Endangered (IUCN) are
also predicted highly vulnerable to climate
change.
Find out more here:
www.cms.int/publications
A complex process…What next?