New Temperature Regimes Threaten Tropical Forest Biodiversity Areas

October 17, 2024

A study published in Conservation Letters shows that up to 66% of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in tropical forests are now experiencing new, extreme temperature changes. These changes could severely affect the diverse plant and animal life in these critical ecosystems.

What are Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)?

KBAs are areas that are very important for maintaining global biodiversity. They include land, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. These areas are a top priority in conservation plans, especially in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, which was adopted in December 2022.

Global Biodiversity Framework

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is a plan to stop and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. One of its goals is to protect at least 30% of the world’s land by 2030, and KBAs are a big part of this effort.

Temperature Changes and Their Impact

The study found that new average annual temperatures have impacted KBAs in tropical forests differently depending on the region:

72% in Africa
59% in Latin America
49% in Asia and Oceania

These changing temperatures can threaten species in tropical forests, which are used to very stable climates under the forest canopy.

Challenges for Species

Tropical forests usually have steady, mild temperatures, and many species in these regions have evolved to live under these consistent conditions. Now, with rising temperatures, these species may find it hard to adjust, making them more vulnerable to climate change.

Regional Findings

The study revealed that 2.9% of KBAs in Latin America and 4.9% in Asia and Oceania are experiencing nearly completely new temperature patterns. Areas in Ecuador, Colombia, the Philippines, and Indonesia are particularly affected, while northern Australia’s tropical forests have seen fewer temperature changes.

Protection of KBAs

Currently, about 34% of tropical forest KBAs are not facing these extreme temperature shifts, and more than half of these are protected. However, in Asia and Oceania, 23% of KBAs that have not yet experienced these temperature changes lack protection.

What Needs to be Done?

The authors of the study stress the need for ‘climate-smart’ policies to protect these crucial areas. These policies should focus on stopping deforestation, restoring large forest areas, and addressing the effects of climate change and habitat degradation. Without these actions, the biodiversity in affected KBAs could suffer greatly.

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