Wildlife in a changing climate

This FAO publication analyses and presents how climate change affects or will likely affect wild animals and their habitats. It focuses on tropical terrestrial wildlife and its habitats, but other fauna, ecosystems and geographical regions are covered as well.

This publication examines the likely consequences of climate change for wildlife, including altered ecosystems and species composition and increased incidence of human–wildlife conflict, wildland fires, and spread of invasive species and infectious diseases. The main focus is on terrestrial tropical wildlife and its habitats, but other fauna, ecosystems and geographical regions are covered, as well. Adequate responses to climate change are also discussed, such as maintaining current ecosystems, adaptive management, restoring ecosystems and adopting integrated and landscape approaches to biodiversity conservation. Case studies are presented throughout to illustrate the issues.

See Also

Feature: Dwarfed by climate change.

Report: Wildlife in a changing world.

Report: Species feeling the heat.

Report: Protected areas helping people..

Report: For life, for the future.

Report: Climate change and its impact on biodiversity.

Report: Ecosystem-based adaptation.

Report: Global forest resources assessment 2010.

Feature: Some species adapt to climate change, others face extinction.

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