2,000 species at high risk of extinction from natural disasters, study finds
2,000 species at high risk of extinction from natural disasters, study finds
news.mongabay.com
2,000 species at high risk of extinction from natural disasters, study finds
In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria’s assault on the Caribbean island of Dominica in 2017, researchers made a heartbreaking discovery: dead and dying hummingbirds scattered across the forest floor. Am...
- More than 2,000 terrestrial vertebrate species face a high risk of extinction from natural hazards, including hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis, according to a first-of-its-kind study.
- Nearly 70% of the high-risk species live exclusively on islands, highlighting the particular vulnerability of island ecosystems.
- Only 15% of high-risk species have specific conservation plans in place, while approximately 30% have their entire known range outside protected areas.
- The study calls for increased investment in habitat protection, restoration, captive-breeding programs and species translocation to help vulnerable species survive in an era of intensifying natural hazards.
A study identified 2,001 species (834 reptiles, 617 amphibians, 302 birds and 248 mammals) that have at least 25% of their habitat in areas experiencing high impact from hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis.