New research published in the June 3, 2022 journal Science reveals that 44% of Earth's land area—some 64 million square kilometers (24.7 million square miles) requires conservation to safeguard biodiversity. The team, led by Dr. James R.
Protected-area targets could be undermined by climate change-driven shifts in ecoregions and biomes
Expanding the global protected area network is critical for addressing biodiversity declines and the climate crisis. However, how climate change will affect ecosystem representation within the protected area network remains unclear. Here we use spatial climate analogs to examine potential climate-driven shifts in terrestrial ecoregions and biomes under a +2 °C warming scenario and associated implications for achieving 30% area-based protection targets.
Ecosystems on Earth's land surface support multiple functions and services that are critical for society...Climate and environmental changes, as well as anthropogenic impacts, are continuously threatening the provision of these functions.
Native habitats are increasingly unable to store carbon because introduced pests are chewing through forests, shrublands, and tussocklands, new research says. For the first time, Forest and Bird research has linked the habits of browsing pests to carbon emissions.