Climate change is the variability that occurs over a certain period of time and results in changes in the expected weather patterns. One of the leading causes of climate change is human activities that have hugely contributed to the rising temperatures. The industrial revolution has seen a lot of fossil fuel being burnt and huge amounts of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere. As a result, the world is experiencing droughts, heavy rainfall, and wildfires among other calamities. In this article, we will expound more on the effects of climate on vegetation and wildlife.
Vegetation is a very important part of the ecosystem as it prevents soil erosion, plays a big part in soil conservation, and also assists in nutrient cycling. But with the changes in temperature and rainfall being experienced, the plant species are being threatened. You will note that vegetation requires a good environment for them to flourish but climate change is affecting both the physical and chemical factors. For instance, the witnessed rising sea levels have resulted in flooding which has greatly affected the vegetation in many parts of the world. The plants in most of these areas have been submerged and the quality of the soils completely altered making it hard for any vegetation to survive even after the calamity is over. Also, the prolonged drought has seen an eruption of wildfires that have destroyed acres of land. A lot of vegetation is destroyed as a result and we end up losing the numerous benefits that they contribute to the ecosystem. Also, climate change has resulted in the altered distribution of plant species a condition being witnessed all over the world. Luckily, studies are being carried out with the aim of coming up with mechanisms of ensuring restoration is done and adaptive measures put in place.
Just like the vegetation, wildlife has not been left behind as it too has felt the effects of climate change. The rising sea levels are affecting the coastal wildlife like birds, fish among others. Most of the residents in these areas depend on these animals for survival in terms of tourism and fishing hence the changes have greatly affected their livelihood. On the other hand, the prolonged droughts on the savannahs have seen the deaths of many animals due to lack of water and grass and some of them are on the verge of extinction. Also, the regular eruption of wildfire has destroyed their habitats and has have had very serious effects on wildlife. Also, the search for food, water, and adaptive temperatures has led to the migration of many wild animals in many parts of the world and this has greatly affected the tourism sector in most countries. In order to prevent any further effects, many countries are putting up measures to ensure they cub the number of harmful emissions that are released into the atmosphere. One strategy that many countries have adopted is the use of clean energy. The bun of fuel in many countries and increased use of clean energy will help protect the environment hence make the world a better place to live in. Click here for more info about climate change.
