Protecting iconic species while tackling the climate crisis

Björn Alfthan

By GRID-Arendal

December 3^rd, 2019

With humankind’s footprint on nature expanding to every corner of the globe, it is becoming harder and harder to ensure the survival of some of the world’s most iconic species.

A new UNEP programme, Vanishing Treasures, is working to conserve iconic mountain species while helping human communities adapt to climate change.

The programme focusses its efforts on three species: the snow leopard in the Central Asian countries of Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic, the Royal Bengal tiger in Bhutan, and the mountain gorilla within the Virunga Mountains (Uganda and Rwanda).

Central Asia: Snow leopard, Himalayas: Royal Bengal tiger, Virunga Mountains: Mountain gorilla

Both the snow leopard and tiger require large spaces to move and their conservation cannot be ensured simply by setting aside a few protected areas in the hope the animals will remain within their safe confines. Inevitably, they will roam outside of these protected areas and come into contact with humans. As the effects of climate change grow, these species will be increasingly competing with humans for water, pastures, and other resources.

For the mountain gorilla, their very survival depends on the preservation of relatively small areas of remaining forests in an otherwise agriculture-dominated landscape.

One of the key approaches over the coming year for the Vanishing Treasures programme will be gaining an understanding of how climate change will affect the habitats and ecosystems of these species, and predicting how these animals will respond to the changes. This will give insight into whether existing protected areas are fit for purpose and what modifications might need to be made.

At the same time, the programme will work with local communities to understand their vulnerabilities to climate change, and how communities’ responses may interact with the species and their landscapes.

The Vanishing Treasures programme was on exhibit during the Global Landscape Forum meeting in Luxembourg. Credit: Matthias Jurek

Last week, an exhibit was launched at the Global Landscape Forum in Luxembourg to raise awareness of the programme, with four panels describing the unique approach taken in each region.