Climate change could become the main cause of biodiversity loss by the middle of the century, more than changes in land use, warns a study released in Portugal today. Published in the scientific journal ‘Science’, and with the participation of Portuguese scientists, the study begins by saying that global biodiversity has decreased by between 2 and 11% over the course of the 20th century, due to changes in land use alone. The destruction of a forest to use the land for agriculture is an example of land use change. But the results of the research, according to a statement released by the University of Coimbra, show that climate change will have an ‘increased negative impact’ on both biodiversity and ecosystem services (the benefits of nature). “Although changes in land use will continue to play an important role, climate change will tend to become the main cause of biodiversity loss by the first half of this century”, the document warns.
Climate change set to become main cause of biodiversity loss by 2050
Photo: LEON MCGREGOR/UNSPLASH
