Natural Environment Blog

A 6 degree increase in average temperature could force one species of kangaroo to extinction.

Global warming could seriously diminish kangaroo populations over the next 20 years, according to researchers from James Cook University in Townsville, Australia.  

The result of the study has been published in the December issue of Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 

The researchers, Euan G. Ritchie and Elizabeth E. Bolitho, estimate that a 2 percent increase in temperature could shrink kangaroos’ ranges by 48 percent. A 6 degree increase in temperature could shrink ranges by 96 percent. 

These projected temperature ranges are not unheard of either. Climate models indicate that a temperature increase of between 0.4 and 2 degrees is likely to occur in northern Australia by the year 2030, and anincrease of between 2 and 6 degrees is expected by 2070.

Extinction

Global warming could force one species of kangaroo to extinction.

The antilopine wallaroo, a kangaroo species that resides in wet tropical climates, may become extinct if temperatures increase by 6 degrees.

It all depends on how the animal can adapt. Such a temperature increase would produce an environment that is seriously lacking in water. Even an increase in 2 degrees could shrink its geographic range by 89 percent.

The Main Cause - Less Water

The decrease in available water is what would cause the most harm. It’s likely that the kangaroos themselves could cope with higher temperatures - as long as their habitat didn’t change. Unfortunately, increased temperatures would lead to less available water, and less water would lead to a much different (and drier) environment to live in.

The kangaroos would be forced to adapt or move. Unfortunately, even if they could move to another environment, it’s unlikely that the vegetation and topography that they’re used to, would shift at the same rate.

The authors of the study write, “If dry seasons are to become hotter and rainfall events more unpredictable, habitats may become depleted of available pasture for grazing and waterholes may dry up, this may result in starvation and failed reproduction… or possible death due to dehydration for those species that are less mobile”.

According to this article by The Australian newspaper, research has found that global warming is directly responsible for declining seabird populations.

The research, compiled by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, was carried out in the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia. The research was then used for a report called Seabirds and Shorebirds in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area in a Changing Climate, which was commissioned by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Queensland Environment Protection Agency.

The reseach found that warmer water near the surface of the ocean, forces fish and plankton away from the surface of the water. This causes the seabirds and their young to go hungry, as it is more difficult to find prey. This in turn, means the seabirds are less likely to breed.

According to the report, the warmer water is being caused by more frequent and intense El Nino events.

In some areas, seabird populations have declined by up to 96 percent.

Also, the report found that, around Heron Island in 2003, a 1 degree increase in temperature reduced shearwaters’ feeding frequency from once every two nights, to once every five.

Another report, produced in December last year, identifies 31 bird species in Australia that are at “high risk of extinction”. 

The report, entitled The State of Australia’s Birds 2007 - Birds in a Changing Climate, says that a 2 to 5 percent rise in temperatures will lead to the extinction of many species. The urgency of the situation is highlighted when you consider that experts are forecasting that temperatures will rise to those levels within the next 60 years or so.  

The birds at most risk are those around the savannas and rainforests of northern Australia, where the climate is much warmer.

Scientists who wrote the “Honolulu Declaration on Ocean Acidification and Reef Management” have presented key findings and recommendations of the report to delegates of the World Conservation Congress being held in Barcelona this week.

The Honolulu Declaration was first presented to the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting in Kona, Hawaii back in August. The report provides recommendations in dealing with the issue of acidification of the oceans, and managing coral reefs around the world.

Ocean acidification is believed to be the biggest threat to our oceans today, and could virtually wipe out the world’s coral reefs before the end of the century.  

Some of the recommendations in the report include:

• Stabilize CO2 emissions and reduce marine pollution across multiple channels;
• Mandate the inclusion of climate change actions into marine protected area management plans;
• Increase appropriations to improve the science and actions addressing ocean acidification impacts on coral reefs;
• Reduce all stresses on coral reefs as much as possible to enhance their health and resilience;
• Protect reefs that are less vulnerable to the impacts of ocean acidification by creating new marine protected areas and through zoning plans in existing ones;
• Develop, test and implement innovative interventions to reduce damage to weakened reefs and replenish species loss caused by ocean acidification; and
• Develop a collaborative international program on ocean acidification that includes a coordinated network of monitoring stations.

Governments around the world are starting to realize the threat that our coral reefs are under. Only a few days ago, the Queensland government of Australia agreed to step up efforts to save the Great Barrier Reef,  following the ,release of a new report on water quality surrounding the reef.

“There is a clear sense of urgency”.

That’s what, Valli Moosa, the president for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) told delegates at the World Conservation Congress (WCC) during the opening session on Sunday.

After the 4th day of the congress, Moosa said:

In the last four days the call to protect the planet has been heard from both government leaders and the NGO community. Environmental concerns are now at the top of the decision-makers priority list.

Moosa wasn’t the only one with this sentiment. IUCN Director General, Julia Marton-Lefèvre said: 

Absolutely everyone now agrees that we can’t postpone decisive action if we are to avoid major disruptions in all spheres of human and natural activities. Business as usual is not an option.

About the Congress

The congress, being held in Barcelona, Spain, brings together more than 8,000 of the world’s leading decision makers in sustainable development: from governments, NGOs, business, the UN and academia.

The objective of the congress is:

Ideas, action and solutions for a diverse and sustainable world.

In total, 125 motions were forwarded to the congress for discussion. The motions fall under the following categories:

• Governance (13 motions)
• Biodiversity Conservation (54 motions)
• Ecosystems and Human Well-Being (26 motions)
• Climate Change (8 motions)
• Energy (4 motions)
• Economy, Market and Finance (7 motions)
• Law, Policy and Ethics (10 motions)
• Education and Communication (3 motions)

You can read the full list of motions on the IUCN website. 

The congress is being held over 10 days between 5 October and 14 October, 2008.

I just read that the ozone hole over the antarctic is bigger in 2008 than it was in 2007.

In 2008, the ozone hole expanded by 2 million square kilometers to 27 million square kilometers (or 10.4 million square miles). 

Despite it’s growth over the last year, the ozone hole still isn’t as large as it was in 2006, when it was the most severe ozone hole on record. Back then it reached 29 million square kilometers (11.2 million square miles) on September 24.

In case you’re wondering,  when it comes to the ozone hole, bigger is not better. The ozone protects us from ultraviolet rays that can increase our risk of cancer and harm marine life. The larger the ozone hole becomes, the worse it is for us on Earth.

According to the latest IUCN red list, almost 17,000 of the world’s plant and animal species are facing extinction. 

Of the 44,838 plant and animal species evaluated by IUCN, 38% have been catalogued as threatened with extinction.

The IUCN red list, which is the international benchmark for the threat level of animals and plants, has recently been updated to produce the 2008 version. And things don’t look too good.

Things look particularly grim for the world’s mammals. Of the 5,487 known mammal species, 1,139 are facing extinction. Marine mammals are at most risk, with more than one in three facing extinction.

Furthermore, IUCN has been unable to classify a threat level for 836 mammals due to lack of data. This means that the number of threatened mammals is probably higher than the reported 21 percent, and could be as high as 36 percent, according to IUCN scientist Jan Schipper. 

Statistics

Here are some statistics which outline the number of species evaluated, and the percentage of those that are under threat from extinction:

It’s important to note that this table may make things appear to be even worse than they are. This is because, not all species were evaluated. Generally, the table is biased towards species that are thought to be threatened, species for which data are readily available, and under-reporting of Least Concern species.

Having said that, it’s still concerning to see so many species (16,928 to be exact) under threat from extinction. 

What Is the IUCN Red List?

Here’s IUCN’s description of the Red List:

The IUCN Red List is the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species. It uses a set of criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies. These criteria are relevant to all species and all regions of the world. With its strong scientific base, the IUCN Red List is recognized as the most authoritative guide to the status of biological diversity.

The Full IUCN Red List

The full IUCN red list is available via a searchable database at http://www.iucnredlist.org. You can also download this Excel spreadsheet containing statistics of the 2008 list.

Did you know that in 2007, arctic summer sea ice reached its lowest extent on record?

Did you know that carbon dioxide levels are at their highest levels in 650,000 years?

And did you know that the global average sea level has risen 4 to 8 inches over the past century?

Well, if you’re into these kinds of statistics, you’ll probably be interested in NASA’s climate time machine. It’s an interactive tool that allows you to see how things have changed in recent years regarding the earth’s climate, sea levels, ice levels, and carbon dioxide emissions.

In New Zealand, the Christchurch city council chopped down six trees smack bang in the middle of the city today. What makes it astonishing, is that today is both World Environment Day and Arbor Day!

The council has admitted that this was a “terrible coincidence”. The trees were being removed to make way for a controversial service lane.

Given the theme for his year’s World Environment Day (”Kick the habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy!”), this is even more of a “terrible coincidence”. Forest destruction is one of the worst causes of greenhouse gas.

And, the fact that New Zealand was also observing Arbor Day makes it almost laughable. The whole purpose of Arbor Day is to encourage individuals and groups to plant and care for trees!

And, as if that’s not enough, New Zealand was also the official host of this year’s World Environment Day…

One Christchurch resident said:

As a city that is known as the Garden City, we have that image to uphold. This makes a mockery of `let’s be aware of the environment and let’s walk or cycle to work

I imagine there will be a few red faces in the Christchurch City Council today!

Well, I’d never recommend you do this at home but…

…what better way to celebrate World Environment Day than to climb a skyscraper with your bare hands - and without a rope!

Alain Robert, 45, climbed The New York Times building in Manhattan. Robert reached the top of the 52 story building before being arrested and whisked away by police.

Robert had previously told reporters that he planned to raise awareness of global warming since this is one of the main problems for our time.

When visiting Alain Robert’s website today, you’ll see a banner ad at the top. Clicking on this ad takes you to Robert’s The Solution Is Simple website, where you can send a message to the leaders at next month’s G8 meeting in Japan.

By the way, Robert’s “Simple Solution” is as follows:

1. Stop Cutting Down Trees. Plant More Trees.
2. Make Everything Energy Efficient.
3. Only Make Clean Energy

Wow! It really is simple!

By the way, a second climber was also arrested for climbing the same building today. The cause (if any) is a little unclear at this stage, but he was wearing a “Malaria No More” tee shirt. The Malaria No More organization said they had nothing to do with him.

Prince Charles has today launched the official website for his Rainforest Project. As I mentioned earlier, today is World Environment Day, so it’s a perfect day for launching a website aimed at saving the rainforests.

The main aim of the project, which launched on October 25 last year, is to make the rainforests “more valuable alive than dead”. Today, in many developing countries, rainforests are worth more dead than alive. This is mainly due to demand from developed countries for beef, palm oil, and soya.

When launching the Rainforest Project at a WWF dinner in October last year, Prince Charles said that rainforest destruction is responsible for around 20 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases, second only to the energy sector. Further to this, both the Stern review and the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change report believe tackling deforestation may be one of the quickest and most cost effective means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the short term.

Prince Charles also said the following about the deforestation issue:

It seems to me that the central issue in this whole debate is how we put a true value on standing rainforests to the world community – we simply have to find ways of putting a price on them which makes them more valuable alive than dead.

Elaborating on this, Prince Charles says the project’s objective is:

To find innovative ways of paying the countries that are the custodians of the tropical rainforests an appropriate price for the eco-system services they provide and so out-compete the drivers of deforestation.

In today’s money driven society, this makes a lot of sense. After all, if countries are paid more for their eco-systems services than they are for the drivers of deforestation, then they will no longer allow their own rainforests to be destroyed. Furthermore, not only will they see value in keeping their existing rainforests, they will also see value in increasing the size of their rainforests - after all, more rainforest means more money.

How Will The Project Achieve Its Objective?

The project is engaging with rainforest nations, governments, businesses and non-governmental organizations to find the solutions to deforestation.

The project is also backed by 13 major global companies: Shell, Rio Tinto Zinc, McDonald’s, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Sun Media, Sky, Deutsche Bank, Man Group, KPMG, Barclays Bank, Finsbury and the European Climate Exchange.

Furthermore, the project is being advised by experts including: Lord Stern; Steve Howard, Chief Executive of the Climate Group; Kevin Conrad, the Executive Director of the Coalition for Rainforest Nations; Andrew Mitchell of the Global Canopy Programme; Kristalina Georgieva, Vice President of the World Bank; Reijo Kempinnen, head of the European Commission Representation in the UK; and Barry Gardiner MP.

How You Can Help

You can pledge your support on the Prince’s Rainforest Project website.

Video of Prince Charles Introducing the Rainforest Project

Here’s a video of Prince Charles introducing the Rainforest Project, as well as explaining why he feels this is such an important cause.