IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON

BIODIVERSITY

WITH EMPHASIS ON PROTECTED AREAS, ECOSYSTEMS AND SPECIES

PRESENTED BY Kawsu Jammeh, Manager Programme of Work on Protected Areas

OUTLINE

Status of protected areas, ecosystems and species

Direct impacts on wildlife species

Potential mitigation of climate change impacts on biodiversity

Introduction:

Impacts of climate

Conclusion

Data source and method of collection

Protected Areas 8 NP/R, 66 FP, 2 IM/B, 5 YL, New PA Governance, Agro-ecosystems management (SLM), Integrated Water Resources Management

Biodiversity Monitoring System

African Waterbird Census 1998- 2013.

Rice and Mangrove Survey 2005/6

Monitoring of Bijol Islands (Breeding and Non-breeding season) 1999

Manatee monitoring, turtle monitoring, METT and RAPPAM, Sitatunga monitoring, Hippo monitoring, Crocodile survey, Chimpazee monitoring, Dolphin and Whale survey.

source and method of data collection

Land cover degradation and erratic rainfall

Mangrove retreat and dieback

Habitat alteration and force species adaptability

Ground water depletion and salinization

Species distribution

Invasive species

CC impact on Ecosystems

Sea level rise is expected to have substantial negative impact on marine and coastal ecosystems

Marine ecosystems are affected in the case of the following;

increase in sea temperature and changes in ocean circulation,

ocean acidification,.

Habitat modification resulting from climate change would put the population of Nile crocodiles and African Rock pythons at great risk

Land-base wildlife are expected to face

fodder shortage or degradation in quality,

habitat degradation

lose of weight or tendency towards smaller body size.

species lost and extinction,

increase pest population, inter and intra competition for food and

limit reproductive success in species

Impacts on Wildlife-Animals

Mistiming of biological events E.G. BREEDING

Evidence suggest that shift in timing of biological event has resulted in mistiming with respect to the availability of resources such as food.

Sea level rise

Sea level rise may flood nest of birds breeding on low-lying coastal areas e.g. Terns

Migratory Birds, and the Impacts of Climate Change

Breeding Range Shifts

Is well known that species range depends on temperature and many species of birds have shifted their breeding range polewards E.G. Little egret

Changes in the timing of biological events

Increasing number of migratory birds are opting to capitalized on milder condition in Europe, e.g. Greenshank, a normally long-distant migrant to Africa is now over wintering in Mediterranean in large numbers

Changes in rainfall

Water birds are particularly vulnerable to changes in rainfall because of their dependence on wetlands.

Population impactsExtreme temperature and rainfall tend to lower the survival and productivity of water birds. Cold temperature can cause mortality in chick while high temperature can cause heat strain and death

Coastal erosion

Bijol islands is being washed away. NNP and TBR is eroding unprecedentedly due to sea level rise

Niumi National Park

Nuimi National Park

CONCLUSION • Protected area serve as climate change resilient for

species• Increase protected areas coverage and ensuring

effectiveness.• Promote restoration and rehabilitation of degraded

areas and mangrove• Livelihood projects for community dwelling around Pas• Examples of modelling using Habitat Suitability

Index(HSI) have shown that the suitability of habitats for Dwarf crocodiles and Osprey species in the Gambia is highly reduced.

• Degraded ecosystems will jeopardise the country’s ability to meet the Millennium Development Goals of reducing poverty, hunger and disease.

• Better adaptive strategies and capacities are key to communities ability to successfully cope with climate change in these ecosystems

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENT