BaCCC/Module 6/Lesson 3/Part 1

Module 6, Lesson 3: Building Resilience Through Ecosystem Services (“Nature’s Gifts”), Part 1

Figure 1- Relationships among Risks, Resilience, Hazard Mitigation, and Climate Change Adaptation (27242486244)

Introduction

Mitigation aims to reduce sources of greenhouse gas emissions or enhance carbon sinks, while adaptation is aimed at adjusting human systems to be more resilient to the harmful impacts of climate change. Adaptation prioritises the most vulnerable – and that includes ecosystems and the rest of nature too.

Lesson Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

• review how climate change is affecting animals and plants;
• provide examples of how animals and plants are adapting to climate change – or not – especially through migration; and
• share with others the importance of ecosystem services (“nature’s gifts”) for human resilience.

Terminology

The following terms are important in understanding the science behind climate change. If you want to remember them, write their meanings in your learning journal as you encounter them in the course content.

• carbon sinks
• ecosystem
• greenhouse gas
• mitigation

How are animals and plants being affected by climate change?

Domino effect of climate change on the natural world was drawn for this course by Iulian Thomas

When it comes to biodiversity, climate change is like a giant domino game. Like dominoes, the effects of climate change can set off a chain reaction of consequences that can affect multiple species and ecosystems.

Just as knocking over one domino can cause a chain reaction of falling dominoes, the impact of climate change on one species or ecosystem can trigger a cascade of effects on other species and ecosystems that depend on it. For example, as temperatures rise, species that are adapted to cooler temperatures may struggle to survive or be forced to move to new locations. This can lead to changes in predator−prey relationships, competition for resources and changes in the composition of entire ecosystems.

Furthermore, changes in climate can also lead to extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts and wildfires, which can further impact biodiversity by destroying habitats and disrupting ecosystem processes. This can lead to the extinction of species and loss of biodiversity, which can have far-reaching consequences for the health and well-being of humans as well.

Some species are more vulnerable to climate change than others, depending on their physiological (body) and ecological (habitat) characteristics, as well as their geographical range. Apart from the impacts of climate disasters, climate change is also causing changes in their distribution, behaviour and abundance.

Below are some types of species that are particularly vulnerable to climate change.

Types of species under threat from climate change

Polar and mountain species: Species that live in polar and mountain regions, such as polar bears, Arctic foxes and mountain gorillas, are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, as they are adapted to specific climatic conditions and have limited opportunities to migrate to more suitable habitats. The polar bears’ habitat of thick Arctic Sea ice is literally disappearing beneath their feet. Endemic or rare species: Endemic species – species that are found only in a specific geographic region – are especially vulnerable to climate change, as they live in specialised habitats and have limited opportunities to migrate to new areas. For example, many island species, such as the Galapagos finches, are under threat due to the changing climate. The akikiki is a honeycreeper (bird) native to Hawaii. At first, its populations were decimated by other species – especially mosquitoes, with their diseases – brought by European colonisers. But according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), “[t]he last safe haven for the birds lies in the mountains of Kauaʻi, a place too cool for mosquitoes, but these high-elevation oases are increasingly impacted by extreme weather.” Sessile species: Like the clams and mussels that fried on the beach in the record Canadian heat in 2021 (see Module 2), sessile species are literally stuck in one place and cannot move their habitat or escape. Migratory species: Migratory species, such as birds and whales, are also vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, as they rely on specific migration routes and habitats, which can be disrupted by changing conditions. Specific climate conditions serve as cues for their migration; therefore, if their migration is triggered early or late, they may arrive before or after food is abundant or even available. Aquatic species: Aquatic species, such as fish and amphibians, are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, as they are sensitive to changes in water temperature, flow and chemistry. Pacific salmon, for example, tend to die off when they are exposed for too long to freshwater above 22ºC. Slow-growing and long-lived species: Species that have slow growth rates and long lifespans, such as trees and reptiles, are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, as they have limited opportunities to adapt to changing conditions over their lifetime. Species that depend on specialised interaction with other species: For example, climate change can disrupt the balance of interaction between predator and prey, host and parasite, or competitors for food or habitat. Species that are in the wrong place at the wrong time: For example, elephants ran out of water during the Kenyan drought, and koala bears got caught in Australia’s bushfires (see Module 2).

These are just a few examples of the types of species that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as rising land or ocean temperature, sea level rise, increasing ocean acidification or a decrease in snow and ice. In general, species that are already under threat from other human-caused factors (habitat degradation or destruction, pollution, overexploitation, disease and invasive species) are especially vulnerable to the added stress of climate change. It is, therefore, important to address the impacts of climate change as part of broader conservation efforts for biodiversity.

Activity

In your role as a climate champion, you may come across people who do not seem to care much about climate change – but they might be gardeners, nature buffs or pet owners who do care about local flora and fauna. Do some research (online or at a zoo or wildlife centre, etc.) to find out about one animal or plant species in your community, country or region that is threatened due to the impacts of climate change. (The chart below will give you the language to start your search.)

You may have to do some detective work. What type of species is it (from the list above)? What aspect of climate change is threatening it? In your learning journal, answer the five Ws (who, what, when, where and why) and how. Your findings will give you something to discuss with people who are not concerned about the impacts of climate change on fellow humans.

The IUCN Red List

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is a globally recognized and widely used system for classifying the conservation status of species. The list provides information on the extent of species’ decline, their geographic range and the factors that threaten their survival. The following are the categories used in the IUCN Red List: 1. Extinct: A species is regarded as extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. 2. Extinct in the wild: A species is regarded as extinct in the wild when it only survives in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalised population well outside its past range. 3. Critically endangered: A species is regarded as critically endangered when it faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. 4. Endangered: A species is regarded as endangered when it is not critically endangered but is still facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. 5. Vulnerable: A species is regarded as vulnerable when it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future. 6. Near threatened: A species is regarded as near threatened when it is not currently threatened but is likely to become so in the near future. 7. Least concern: A species is regarded as of least concern when it has a widespread and abundant population and is not likely to become endangered in the near future. 8. Data deficient: A species is regarded as data deficient when there is insufficient information to assess its risk of extinction. The IUCN Red List is an important tool for understanding the conservation status of species and identifying priority areas for conservation action. The Red List provides scientific information on the extinction risk of species that can be used by governments, conservation organisations and other stakeholders to develop and implement effective conservation strategies.

It is estimated that today,

• 50% of the world’s species are at risk of extinction
• the extinction rate of animal species is between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate (what the extinction rate would have been without human encroachment and activity)

There is no longer any doubt that human impact on animal extinction is significant. We are in the sixth mass extinction.

Something important to note is that until recently, climate change was not a leading threat to species. Habitat loss and the loss of genetic diversity have been the major causes of extinction and endangerment.

Human activity can also contribute to a loss of habitat. Development for housing, industry, and agriculture reduces the habitat of native organisms. . . . Human activity can lead to a loss of genetic variation. Overhunting and overfishing have reduced populations of many animals. Reduced population means there are fewer breeding pairs. With fewer breeding pairs, genetic variation shrinks. (National Geographic, n.d.)

However, the impacts of climate change are now contributing to animal and plant extinctions in the following ways (Nelson, 2022):

• Land habitats are becoming too hot or too risky (due to an increase in extreme weather events).
• Marine habitats are becoming too warm or too acidic, or food sources are dwindling.
• Intertidal habitats (sandy or rocky shores) are becoming too warm, while more intense storms and sea level rise impact them as well.
• Freshwater habitats (ponds, bogs and streams) are becoming too warm or too crowded by invasive species brought by the warmth, and they can dry out or flood.

Activity

Find (or create) a map or poster that shows the endangered species of your country. Include it in your learning journal. Find (or explore and write) a good news story (such as the one for the house sparrow in India, below) about one of those species. Share it on social media, using the hashtag #SavingEndangeredSpecies.

House_sparrow_(Passer_domesticus),_Amrum

Why are house sparrows endangered in India?

It seems that warmer winters due to climate change have impacted the once abundant house sparrow (Passer domesticus) in India. The positive effects of warmer winters do not seem to extend to species that have adapted to colder temperatures. This is true in the case of the house sparrow and carrion crow (resident birds) and short-distance migrants such as the meadow pipit and redpoll. They have become relatively less abundant over time due to change in climatic conditions. — DownToEarth, “There Is More to Declining Bird Numbers Than Just Climate Change.” There Is More to Declining Bird Numbers than Just Climate Change However, there are many other fascinating stories of compounding factors affecting house sparrows around the world, for example: The Nature Conservancy, “Where Have All the House Sparrows Gone?” Where Have All the House Sparrows Gone? For your learning activity above, check out this story of one man’s campaign (along with volunteer sparrow adopters) in India to save the house sparrow – a species that has become a helpmate of human beings – before it is lost: Today People Don’t Like Sparrows Nesting in Their Homes Is the Endangered House Sparrow Making a Comeback?

So, what is our role, and the role of human communities, in protecting endangered species and building their resilience to climate change?

The Endangered Species Coalition – whose mission is to stop human-caused extinction of species at risk, to protect and restore their habitats and to guide fragile populations along the road to recovery – has a list of steps we can take.

Steps for protecting endangered species

1. Learn about endangered species. Inform your friends and family about the beautiful plants, animals, birds and fish in your neighbourhood and your country. 2. Design a wildlife-friendly habitat in your backyard, a vacant lot or a nearby schoolyard (with permission, of course). Install bird baths and other wildlife attractants, such as bird feeders, insect hotels, small rock piles (for reptiles) and “islands” of undisturbed areas. See this article for inspiration, as India’s “Nest Man” has worked with learners across the country to make 250,000 bird nests: Saving Sparrows in Cities, One Nest at a Time 3. Plant a pollinator garden with native plants in your yard or neighbourhood. Native wildlife can rely on native plants for food and shelter. Pollinating other plants in your garden can be easier by attracting native insects such as bees and butterflies. Do not plant invasive plants, which can overtake and destroy the native species that animals evolved to depend upon. 4. Use pesticides and herbicides sparingly – only when absolutely necessary. These chemicals are dangerous pollutants that can have a wide range of effects on wildlife (the suffix “-cide” comes from the Latin word meaning “kill”). Also reduce the use of synthetic (human-made) chemical fertilisers, which can cause deformities and death in amphibians (such as frogs) when the contaminants run off fields into streams and rivers (which releases powerful greenhouse gases). 5. Reduce the amount of water you and your family use in your home and garden. This will give aquatic animals a better chance at survival, especially as climate change intensifies droughts. Do not dump paint, oil, antifreeze (for cars in wintry countries) or any other chemicals down the drain or into waterways as they can harm people and wildlife and pollute the water. Keep litter, rubbish and pet waste out of street drains, which often flow into rivers, lakes or the ocean. 6. If birds hit your windows, stick decals (cut-outs) on the windows to make them visible, helping birds to avoid smashing into them. Turn out lights at night, especially during bird migration seasons. Window collisions cause hundreds of millions of bird deaths every year. 7. When driving (even on your bicycle or motorbike), slow down and be watchful. Since many animals live in developed areas, they have to navigate busy streets at times. Avoid littering the roadside or leaving unsecured rubbish outside, as it can attract wildlife. 8. Buy recycled paper products. This will lower deforestation and keep forests safer for wildlife. 9. Again, do not litter or otherwise damage delicate habitats, as these might be the homes of native or visiting endangered or threatened species. 10. Participate in (or even organise) a clean-up campaign for a significant habitat in your area. 11. Never buy anything made from endangered species, such as ivory, tortoise shell or coral. 12. Let the authorities know about any harassment of endangered or threatened species that you witness. 13. Spend some time in a park, wildlife refuge or other natural space. Observe which species of birds, fish, mammals and other animals, as well as plants, make their home there. 14. Be vocal. Send a letter of support for important measures to protect species to your elected officials or a local newspaper. Use social media to amplify your message.

Intact forests of healthy trees are vital for mitigating and adapting to climate change. Jamuna Tudu, an Indian environmental activist, recognised the importance of trees from an early age. Now called Lady Tarzan for preventing the illegal cutting of trees near her village, she organises local women to take on tree poachers. Not only has she saved 50 hectares of forest, but she has also united and motivated 10,000 women to protect trees and wildlife. She has received awards for her courageous work, and the villagers honour her by planting 18 trees to commemorate the birth of each child in the village and ten trees for every marriage. You can read more about her here:

Padma Shri Jamuna Tudu: ‘Lady Tarzan’ of Jharkhand

and

She Came, She Saw, She Saved

Activity

You do not have to be as brave as Jamuna Tudu to have a positive effect on your local plants and animals and their resilience (and, therefore, your resilience) to climate change impacts. Choose one step from the list above that you can take, write your commitment to it in your learning journal and ask your family or friends to help you. Once you accomplish it, write a reflection in your journal on how it felt and how you overcame any challenges.