Solution to climate change extinctions: Move animals
Orangutangs in Chicago! Zebras in Alaska!
In one of the most wrong-headed non-solutions to come along in a while, a report in the journal Nature suggests that we might save some species of animals from climate change extinction by moving them to areas newly suited to their needs.
The idea is that if one part of the world gets a litlle too warm or wet, send the species that can't handle their new environment to places where climate change has made things more hospitable. An example given is the rare Iberian lynx, native to Spain, which might thrive in a future warmer Scotland.
While the idea has some surface appeal, it doesn't seem to consider in fullness the potential impact of deliberately introducing new species into existinng eco-systems, a practice which has add disastrous consequences in the past (rabbits in Australia, anyone?). Besides that, it doesn't address the larger problem of habitat loss due not to climate change, but the building of housing developments and strip malls on once-pristine land. It doesn't matter what country an animal is moved to if the only place to live is the dumpster out back of the Burger King.
Dude, you just ate a clone burger!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-31-2008 @ 9:08PM
Mark said...
I currently work for the British Columbia government on climate change adaptation. We are looking for solutions to the growig threat to species and ecosystems in our province.
I have heard more and more about this idea in recent weeks and I have to say that I think assisted migration is a bad idea.
First of all, species do not exist in isolation. They are a part of a delicate network of species who interact with one another in ways that we do not completely understand. To move a species from one area to another means you are separating them from these relationships including predator/prey relationships and symbiotic relationships.
In addition, future landscape scenarios are based upon climate models that are based upon so many variables that we are really only making educated guesses about what future landscapes will look like and where future climatic envelopes will end up.
The only usefulness I can see for assisted migration is short distance assisted migration across small pockets of human development. However I think the real solution will come from better land management practices from private landowners, and smarter development planning from local communities.
Unfortunately, adapting to climate change is not a quick fix. It requires real change to our lifestyle. Assisted migration amounts to nothing more than a bandaid solution that is likely to cause more damage than good.
If you are interested in learning more about climate change initiatives in British Columbia Canada, please feel free to visit my site at coolclimatenow.com . There is not much content at the moment, but more info will be coming soon.
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