COP28: Climate Change Already Impacting Migratory Animals, Says New Report, Calls For Urgent Action

Findings of a new study presented at the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, COP28, have said that climate change is already having catastrophic impacts on many migratory animals and their ability to provide vital ecosystem services to humanity.

The report, 'Climate change and migratory species: a review of impacts, conservation actions, indicators and ecosystem services,' was released at the COP28 summit on Thursday.

Pexels

What the study found

According to the study, there is strong evidence that global increases in temperature have affected most migratory species groups, and these impacts are mostly negative.

The report said that the changes that are already being seen, including poleward range shifts, changes in the timing of migration, and reduced breeding success and survival.

How migratory animals are impacted

Some of the key findings include:

• Rising temperatures are causing changes in the reproduction and survival of krill and are having a negative impact on marine mammals and seabirds that rely on krill as a key food source.
• Temperature increases are driving poleward range shifts and earlier migration and breeding. In some species, such as wading birds, there is a risk this will cause a mismatch between the timing of breeding and the time when prey species are most abundant.
• Changes in water availability are causing the loss of wetlands and reduced river flows, which are likely to particularly impact the migration of fish and water birds.
• Extreme climate-related events such as landslides are causing severe habitat destruction and have already been observed at some seabird breeding sites. And there is strong evidence that migratory seabirds and marine mammals will be impacted by the changes in oceanic currents which are likely to alter the nature and functioning of many marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

AFP

Why it has implications beyond animals

According to the scientists, due to climate change, these migratory species are failing to play their role in the ecosystems they live in, and support vital ecosystem services that both mitigate the impacts of climate change and increase the resilience to climatic hazards.

Pexels

What can be done

The study said that there is an urgent need to ¡°act now¡± to help vulnerable migratory species adapt to a changing climate. Actions such as the establishment of comprehensive and well-connected networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures are crucial to support species movement in response to climate change, whilst direct human interventions, such as the translocation of vulnerable populations of species, will be needed in some cases.

For more on the news, sports, and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.

?