CABS - Research - Climate Change

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The Earth's climate is changing rapidly and in unprecedented ways. The world's leading climate researchers now agree that this current global warming is likely to bring about an increase of at least several degrees during this century. In contrast to natural fluctuations to which plant and animal populations are able to adjust by moving to new habitats, current global climate changes involve human pollution that causes warming in a climate that is already warm. Since the climate changes presently caused by humans are not part of natural fluctuations, they are unlikely to be reversed by natural mechanisms.

CABS works with Conservation International conservation programs to increase their responsiveness to climate change. Integrating climate change data into CI's corridor development plans helps to create biodiversity-friendly landscapes that are managed with climate change in mind. Improved monitoring systems will help conservation managers decide when to act on possible climate change-related trends in species distribution or abundance. The hotspots most vulnerable to climate change have been prioritized, and extra resources will be targeted to helping top-priority areas develop strategies that include climate change response.

Recently published research on climate change

Thomas, C. D. et al. Extinction risk from climate change. Nature 427, 145-148 (2004) 4pp.

Abstract (subscription to Nature may be required)
Complete article (subscription to Nature may be required)

Biome Shifts with Climate Change: South Africa, (current - 2050)
Results of the South Africa Country Study on Climate Change Vegetation Model developed by the National Botanical Institute of South Africa. Climate models adapted from General Circulation Models of the Hadley Center by the University of Cape Town.

CABS Climate Change research in the news

January 7, 2004: Press release: Climate Change May Threaten More Than One Million Species With Extinction

Related publications

Hannah, Lee and Lovejoy, Thomas E. [Eds.]. 2003. Climate Change and Biodiversity: Synergistic Impacts. Advances in Applied Biodiversity Science (AABS) #4.

This report contains contributions from various researchers who are investigating the synergistic and cascading impacts climate change has on biodiversity when multiple factors interact. The research reported here is based on numeric computer models, field experimentation, and conceptual models framed by experts in multi-disciplinary assessment.

Download in PDF format

Biodiversity and Climate Change. 2000. (12 pp.)
This informative brochure presents an overview of evidence supporting the reality of global warming and describes the CABS program investigating the effects of global warming on biodiversity. The CABS Climate Change program is focused on understanding the specific effects of climate change on biodiversity and on developing conservation strategies that can mediate these effects.

Download in PDF Format

Related links

Conservation International: Climate Change
United Nations: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC)
Climate Ark: Climate Change and Global Warming Portal


	New Presentations on Hydrological Services Available Online: Sampurno Bruijnzeel, tropical hydrology expert, talks about vegetation, reforestation, and hydrological services in two CI-sponsored presentations. Oct. 16 presentation at the World Bank (8 MB PDF) Oct. 17 presentation at CI (7.2 MB PDF) New CABS Brochure Now Available: Click here to view the latest CABS brochure. Contact us to order a hard copy. The Environmental Systems Research Institute Awards CABS’ GIS & Mapping Lab: The Institute honored the Lab for the fifth time in six years, awarding it First Place in the Best Cartographic Design - Single Map Product category for the Coppename River AquaRAP by Mark Denil. View the winning map Hotspots Revisited Available Online. Hotspots Revisited details the state of the earth's biodiversity hotspots. The book identifies 34 regions that cover only 2.3 percent of the Earth's surface but are home to 75 percent of the planet's most threatened species. View Hotspots Revisited



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