By Jennifer Browning
Senior director, The Pew Charitable Trusts' U.S.
conservation project
WASHINGTON, April 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The
United States is one of 17 nations that scientists
call megadiverse—places that harbor the majority of Earth's
plant and animal species, along with high numbers of species found
nowhere else.
Five key approaches can help people and
nature thrive on a changing planet.
Yet, in the U.S. many of these plants and animals face multiple
threats, including from a changing climate that can damage habitats
and ecosystems. To protect these special places, conservation
choices made today, such as what areas to protect and how to care
for them, also should account for the expected future
conditions.
Human communities feel these impacts—from harm to livelihoods
and damage to homes and property to strained state and federal
finances.
To help people better withstand the changes, communities and
governments are beginning to consider future conditions, such as
increased rainfall, more intense storms, or wildfires, when
updating or planning new infrastructure projects. They also are
incorporating natural solutions, such as protecting and restoring
wetlands to minimize flooding from severe storms and sea level
rise.
Updated science shows that holistic conservation approaches are
more effective than focusing on a single river, wetland, forest, or
species. Experts increasingly favor this more comprehensive view
because ecosystems are interconnected and managing them in an
integrated way benefits biodiversity and people—for example, by
helping keep the air and water clean.
In the U.S., these five approaches can help address climate
change and declining biodiversity.
1. Protect ecosystems
According
to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, large
protected areas, such as reserves or parks, are important lines of
defense in combating climate change and biodiversity loss
simultaneously. If effectively managed, such areas can safeguard
nature and cultural resources, protect human health and well-being,
and contribute to sustainable livelihoods.
2. Conserve, restore, and connect fish
and wildlife habitats
Throughout the U.S., many fish and
wildlife pathways and migratory routes have been obstructed by
roadways, dams, culverts, and other infrastructure. Eliminating or
retrofitting some of those barriers or building new crossings for
fish and wildlife helps those species travel and access food.
3. Help nature withstand changing
conditions
State and federal agencies responsible for
overseeing public landscapes are often required to develop
management plans for effective stewardship. Climate-ready
management plans can anticipate and address climate change impacts
on ecosystems by using science and local and traditional Indigenous
knowledge to assess predicted changes, such as warming, sea-level
rise, or increased wildfire risk.
4. Prepare communities for climate
impacts
Protecting communities from natural disasters and
other climate change effects demands collaboration among all
government levels and an engaged, informed public.
But resilience planning to prepare for floods, wildfires,
or sea-level rise is somewhat new for states. A
state resilience plan can help leaders anticipate future
conditions, lay out strategies to adapt, and target resources to
socially vulnerable communities and those most exposed to climate
risk.
5. Capture carbon in
nature
While countering climate change requires immediate
and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, additional
gains can be made by protecting ecosystems that remove greenhouse
gases from the atmosphere and store them. Healthy freshwater and
coastal wetlands—including peatlands, mangroves, seagrasses, and
salt marshes—can store more carbon per acre than any habitat
on Earth. These places also buffer communities from sea-level rise,
floods, and fires; improve air and water quality; provide wildlife
habitat; and support cultural resources.
Preparing people and nature for drought, wildfire, flooding, and
sea-level rise and protecting biodiversity hinge on partnerships
and collaboration among government, communities, businesses, and
others. Through planning smartly, sharing ideas, and coordinating
efforts, policymakers, stakeholders, and rights holders can halt
the decline of species and build adaptable and resilient
communities.
For more information, visit U.S. Conservation | The Pew
Charitable Trusts (pewtrusts.org)
Contact: Debbie Salamone, senior
communications officer, dsalamone@pewtrusts.org 407.982.0958
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SOURCE The Pew Charitable Trusts