A new report from the National Wildlife Federation outlines how climate change is having an adverse effect on wildlife and ocean species throughout New England and the Northeast.
The new report “Wildlife in a Warming World: Confronting the Climate Crisis” says climate change is the greatest threat to wildlife this century. Animals living in the changing biosphere are adapting, migrating to new habitat or facing extinction. National Wildlife Federation Climate Change Scientist Dr. Amanda Staudt is the report’s lead author.
National Wildlife Federation New Hampshire Wildlife Biologist Eric Orff, who contributed data to the report, says a primary example of affected wildlife is one of the animals emblematic to New England.
The report offers solutions to prevent a worst-case scenario which would see the extinction of half of our wildlife species. The biggest challenge, according to Natural Resources Council of Maine Executive Director Lisa Pohlmann, is getting policies in place that reverse climate change.
Biologist Eric Orff notes that even if some of the solutions are immediately put in place, it will take time to recover from climate change effects that are already occurring.
Much of the science in the report is drawn from data being gathered for the National Climate Assessment. A link to the report is available here.
