Barbir Jelena - Handbook of Climate Change and Biodiversity

More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/8740

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Climate change as a whole, and global warming in particular, are known to have a negative impact on biodiversity in three main ways. Firstly, increases in temperatures are known to be detrimental to a number of organisms, especially those in sensitive habitats such as coral reefs and rainforests. Secondly, the pressures posed by a changing climate may lead to sets of responses in areas as varied as phenology, range and physiology of living organisms, often leading to changes in life cycles (especially but not only in reproduction), losses in productivity, or even death. On occasions, the survival of some very sensitive species (e.g. corals) may be endangered. Thirdly, the impacts of climate change to biodiversity are estimated to be felt in the short term in respect of some species and ecosystems, but also in the medium and long term in many biomes. Indeed, if left unattended, some of these impacts may be irreversible.

Many individual governments, NGOs, financial institutions and international donors are currently spending billions of dollars in projects around climate change and biodiversity, but with little coordination. Quite often, the emphasis is on adaptation efforts, with little emphasis on the connections between physio-ecological changes and the life cycles and metabolisms of fauna and flora, or the influence of poor governance on biodiversity. There is therefore a perceived need to not only better understand the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, but to also identify, test and implement measures aimed at managing the many risks climate change poses to fauna, flora and micro organisms. In particular, the question as to how better restore and protect ecosystems from the impact of climate change, also has to be urgently addressed.

This book has been produced to address this need. Papers here compiled look at matters related to the use of an ecosystem-based approach to increase local adaptation capacity, consider the significance of protected areas network in preserving biodiversity in a changing northern European climate, and the impact of climate change on specific species, and wild terrestrial animals. It also presents a variety of case studies such as the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, the effects of climate change on the biodiversity of Aleppo pine forest of Senalba (Algeria), climate change and biodiversity response in the Niger delta region of Nigeria, and the impact of forest fires on the biodiversity and the soil characteristics of tropical peatlands in Indonesia. Moreover the book also entails contributions on how to promote the climate agenda and biodiversity conservation at the local level.

It is a truly interdisciplinary publication, and we hope it will be useful to scholars, social movements, practitioners and members of governmental agencies, undertaking research and/or executing projects on climate change and biodiversity across the world.