By 2075, we will be living on a planet that is much hotter, possibly 3-5° Celsius (5.4-9° Fahrenheit) hotter than the preindustrial average. But how can humanity help nature improve its climate resilience in the years to come? Mongabay’s Jeremy Hance found some answers after interviewing several conservationists. “In 50 years, it’s entirely possible that climate change will have become the largest threat to many species in the world — and thus to ecosystems in general,” James Deutsch, CEO of the U.S.-based nonprofit Rainforest Trust, told Hance. Conservation in today’s world, according to Andrew Whitworth, executive director of Costa Rica-based Osa Conservation, needs a three-pronged approach: having more protected areas like national parks, implementing species-focused conservation programs and building climate resilience. One solution to building climate resilience into nature is to have “large, connected, well-managed ecological systems,” Jean Labuschagne, director of conservation development at the NGO African Parks, told Hance. Deutsch said large ecosystems are naturally more resilient. “I think focusing on the most intact remaining large ecosystems, and especially large tropical forests, becomes really important. … The very size provides adaptive ability,” he said. Deutsch’s group has been putting additional focus on the Amazon, the Congo and New Guinea, home to three of the world’s largest tropical forests. Size matters because large ecosystems and landscapes give wildlife more room to move and seek new habitats in case of drought, flood or fire, Hance wrote. Deutsch said this is why the 30×30 initiative, in which countries aim to protect 30%…This article was originally published on Mongabay

From Conservation news via this RSS feed