Climate Change Impacts On Biodiversity - Saadullah Ayaz

Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity
Saadullah Ayaz
IUCN- Pakistan
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE, PAKISTAN
BIODIVERSITY AND IUCN
IUCN believes that conserving biodiversity involves addressing

(i) species and their sub-populations; (ii) genetic diversity; and (iii)
ecosystems. Hundreds of projects are underway around the world aimed
at saving species and ecosystems and providing the knowledge needed
for successful conservation action. IUCN's biodiversity conservation work
is carried out by its various programmes including Water, Forests,
Marine, Species, Ecosystem Management and Protected Areas. The
following IUCN’s global programme cater for biodiversity concerns:
IUCN Species Programme

IUCN Global Marine Programme
IUCN Water Programme
IUCN Forest Conservation Programme
IUCN Ecosystem Management Programme
IUCN Protected Areas Programme
http://www.iucn.org/what/tpas/biodiversity/solutions/
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
INTERNATIONAL FORFOR
UNION CONSERVATION OF NATURE
CONSERVATION OF NATURE, PAKISTAN
CLIMATE CHANGE AND IUCN
IUCN believes that conserving nature can help reduce greenhouse

gas emissions (mitigation) and help us adapt to the impacts of climate
change
IUCN’s work puts nature at the centre of climate change solutions in

hundred of programmes and projects across the world
IUCN’s Climate Change Network coordinates and facilitates climate

change work across the Union’s programmes, commissions and
member organizations. IUCN’s UN Observer Status offers a unique
position at key international decision-making fora, including the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
http://www.iucn.org/what/tpas/climate/
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
CC AS DRIVER OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS
A comprehensive assessment of the links between ecosystem health

and human well-being, climate change is likely to become the
dominant direct driver of biodiversity loss by the end of the century
(Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2007)
Projected changes in climate, combined with land use change and

the spread of exotic or alien species, are likely to limit the capability
of some species to migrate and therefore will accelerate species loss
(CBD, 2009)
The impacts of climate change on biodiversity are of major concern

to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Convention
also recognizes that there are significant opportunities for mitigating
climate change and adapting to it, while enhancing the conservation
of biodiversity
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
BIODIVERSITY AND CC NEXUS
The links between biodiversity and climate change run both ways:
biodiversity is threatened by climate change, but proper
management of biodiversity can reduce the impacts of climate
change
Biodiversity and Ecosystem (including; forests, wetlands and

oceans) play a role in climate regulation and impacts regional and
global climate changes)
The changing climate has become a major driver of biodiversity

loss and threatens its role as a source of essential ‘goods and
services’
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
BIODIVERSITY AND CC NEXUS
adaptation for biodiversity – Adaptation measures are

needed to protect biodiversity, to enable the widest range of
biodiversity to survive and adapt, and to meet legal duties for
biodiversity protection.
biodiversity for adaptation – Biodiversity can also play

an integral part in adaptation measures for other sectors, such as
coastal protection by salt marshes.
Source: UN Convention on Biological Diversity (2001)
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
IMPACTS OF CC ON BIODIVERSITY
IMPACTS EXAMPLES
Coral die-offs up to 50% in

Die-offs Indian Ocean
A Specie of Golden Toad in

Extinctions Costa Rica
Gothic Marmots emerge

Life Cycles about one month earlier than
30 years ago
Avg. weight of female polar

Physiology bears has decreased by
20% in last 25 Years
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
IMPACTS OF BIODIVERSITY ON CC
IMPACTS EXAMPLES
Forests account for more

Reducing than half on the carbon
Emissions stored in the world
Land races of many crops

Biodiversity provide genetic material for
Net development of drought
resistant crop varieties
The vale of mangroves for

protection of coasts has
Bio Sheilds been estimated $25-$50 per
hectare
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
CC THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
• Impacts on production of ecosystems
• Shrinking habitats (forests and wetlands)

• Desertification
• Damage to aquatic ecosystems (coral reefs, fisheries)
• Shifts in the natural world (climate change impacts at least 420 physical
and biological processes),
- Upward migration of plant and animal species,

- Disappearance of some plant and animal species in certain areas,
- Impact on breeding behavior,
- Change in growing season of plants and agriculture crops,
- Species extinction (some 25% of mammals and 12% of birds are
threatened).
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
GLOBAL EXAMPLES
Frogs rely on water to breed, any reduction or

change in rainfall could reduce frog reproduction.
Moreover, rising temperatures are closely linked to
outbreaks of a fungal disease that contributes to
the decline of amphibian populations
The projected rise in sea levels could cause the

disappearance of the tigers habitat, threatening the
survival of the species in coastal forests of Asia
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
GLOBAL EXAMPLES
In Africa, pressures from longer dry periods and

shrinking living spaces are making elephants highly
vulnerable to climate change
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef could lose up to 95%

of its living coral by 2050 due to changes in ocean
temperature and chemistry
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
CLIMATE CHANGE FACTS- PAKISTAN
1. 12th most vulnerable country (Maplecroft 2010)
2. Losing at least 19% of GDP each year (Yale University 2005)
3. Emission share= 0.8% of world’s total- 135th ranking (in 2008)
Total emissions= 309 million tones CO2 eqv.

- comprising of 54% CO2,
- 36% Methane,
- 9% Nitrous Oxide
- 1% other gases
The biggest contributor is the energy sector with 50% share,

followed by the agriculture sector (39% share), industrial
processes (6% share) and other activities (5% share).
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
CLIMATE CHANGE FACTS- PAKISTAN (contd.)
4. Temperature rise= 0.6 to 1.0°C, since early 1900s

(IPCC- FAR 2007)
5. Temperature may further increase by 1.1 to 6.4 °C (GCISC 2009)

• 1.3- 1.5 °C by 2020s
• 2.5- 2.8 °C by 2050s
• 3.9- 4.4 °C by 2080s
• 2.8- 3.4 °C by the turn of the 21st century
6. Decrease in precipitation= 10 to 15% in last 40 years (IPCC 2007)
7. Western Himalayan glaciers will retreat for the next 50 years,

resulting in decrease of river flows by up to 30 to 40%
(GCISC 2008)
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
BIODIVERSITY FACTS- PAKISTAN (contd.)
1. Status of Species
• Higher plants= 5700

• Lower plants (pteridophytes)= 189
• Lower plants (algae, fungi)= 5275
• Mammals= 195
• Breeding birds= 668
• Amphibian and Reptiles= 199
• Fish (fresh and marine)= 976
• Lower animals = 6182
(including; echinoderms, crustaceans, molluscs, annelids, and arthropods)
• Threatened species= 73 Source: MoEnv., 2010
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
1. Protected Areas (as of 2010)

• Number of Protected Areas= 224
(including ; 23 National Parks, 97 Game Sanctuaries, 104 Game Reserves)
• Total area under protection = 9,852,006 ha.
2. Forest Biodiversity
• Scrub and Trees on farmlands 4.73 million ha. (5.014 % of land)
• Others (coniferous, scrub, riverine and mangrove 3.5 million ha. (2.7 %)
3. Agricultural Biodiversity
• Canal irrigated land= 55,982.39 ha. (19.15 % of land)
• Rain- fed= 2,739.42 ha. (3.28 % of land)
• Rain water harvested= 8,28.05 ha. (0.99 % of land) Source:
MoEnv., 2010
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
4. Livestock Diversity
• Buffalo breeds= 2
• Cattle breeds = 8
• Yak breed= 1
• Goat and Sheep breeds = 53
• Horse breeds = 23
• Camel breeds = 4
• Indigenous poultry breeds = 3
Source: MoEnv., 2010
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
CC AND BIODIVERSITY IN PAKISTAN
IMPACTS ON FOREST RESOURCES
• Forest lands in northern mountain areas of Pakistan would shift from one
biome to another (north-ward) which would decrease in the productivity of
this precious resource
• Change in specie distribution has been recorded, some plant species
have gained elevation
• Lower productivity from forest ecosystems is predicted due to change in
temperature and water regimes
• Spread of pathogens and diseases become frequent and wider
• Incidences of fire (sub-tropical) have become common due to drought
• Mangrove depletetion due to sea intrusion and less water flows in Indus
River
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
CC AND BIODIVERSITY IN PAKISTAN (contd…)
IMPACTS ON FAUNA
• Shrinkage of habitat is intense
• Some species of fresh-water mollusks and amphibians have been found

threatened
• Higher elevation gained by insects (particularly moths and butterflies)
• Habitat of brown bear has warmed up, distribution has changed
• Marmots are recorded to appear early from hibernation
Many more we don’t know…..!!
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
"Like water, air and soil, biological diversity is the hub
of the wheel of life. Destroy it, and the wheel, however
technologically sophisticated…,
will no longer run"
(Anonymous)
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION
Thanks
For more information, please contact:
Saadullah Ayaz
Coordinator Climate Change/ Air Quality Management
IUCN Pakistan
Email: saad.ayaz@iucn.org
IUCN, INTERNATIONAL
IUCN, UNION

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Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity

IUCN believes that conserving biodiversity involves addressing

IUCN Species Programme

IUCN believes that conserving nature can help reduce greenhouse

IUCN’s work puts nature at the centre of climate change solutions in

IUCN’s Climate Change Network coordinates and facilitates climate

A comprehensive assessment of the links between ecosystem health

Projected changes in climate, combined with land use change and

The impacts of climate change on biodiversity are of major concern

Biodiversity and Ecosystem (including; forests, wetlands and

The changing climate has become a major driver of biodiversity

adaptation for biodiversity – Adaptation measures are

biodiversity for adaptation – Biodiversity can also play

Source: UN Convention on Biological Diversity (2001)

Coral die-offs up to 50% in

A Specie of Golden Toad in

Gothic Marmots emerge

Avg. weight of female polar

Forests account for more

Land races of many crops

The vale of mangroves for

• Impacts on production of ecosystems

• Shrinking habitats (forests and wetlands)

- Upward migration of plant and animal species,

Frogs rely on water to breed, any reduction or

The projected rise in sea levels could cause the

In Africa, pressures from longer dry periods and

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef could lose up to 95%

1. 12th most vulnerable country (Maplecroft 2010)

2. Losing at least 19% of GDP each year (Yale University 2005)

3. Emission share= 0.8% of world’s total- 135th ranking (in 2008)

Total emissions= 309 million tones CO2 eqv.

The biggest contributor is the energy sector with 50% share,

4. Temperature rise= 0.6 to 1.0°C, since early 1900s

5. Temperature may further increase by 1.1 to 6.4 °C (GCISC 2009)

6. Decrease in precipitation= 10 to 15% in last 40 years (IPCC 2007)

7. Western Himalayan glaciers will retreat for the next 50 years,

• Higher plants= 5700

• Threatened species= 73 Source: MoEnv., 2010

1. Protected Areas (as of 2010)

• Total area under protection = 9,852,006 ha.

Source: MoEnv., 2010

IMPACTS ON FOREST RESOURCES

• Incidences of fire (sub-tropical) have become common due to drought

• Shrinkage of habitat is intense

• Some species of fresh-water mollusks and amphibians have been found

• Higher elevation gained by insects (particularly moths and butterflies)

• Habitat of brown bear has warmed up, distribution has changed

• Marmots are recorded to appear early from hibernation

Many more we don’t know…..!!

For more information, please contact:

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