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Climate Change with Agriculture and Natural Resources (Biodiversity) A presentation to KZN Pre-COP 17 Summit Caiphus Ernest Khumalo Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) 26 September 2011, ICC - Durban Presentation Outline i. CC impact on agriculture ii. Contribution of agriculture to CC iii. Impact on biodiversity iv. Impact on marine ecosystems v. Impact on inland water ecosystems vi. Ezemvelo mitigations to CC vii. Linkages of sub-themes viii.Summary Impacts on Agricultural Ecosystems 1/3 of world’s land area used for agriculture Climate change impacts badly on these areas • > 7 000 plant species cultivated for food • Now only about 15 plants & 8 animals • Most lost adaptability over time • ¼ wild potatoes to die out in 50 years Continued heat stress & drier soils will reduce yield – heat tolerance Agriculture Contributes to Climate Change!!!!!!!!! a. b. c. d. e. Land use change Flooding for rice & sugarcane Burning crops’ residues/remnants Raising ruminant animals Nitrogen fertilizers Global agriculture accounts for 20% anthropogenic emission of greenhouse gases Managing Impact – Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases • Through: - better management of agricultural soils - improve efficiency of fertilizer use - restore degraded agricultural lands - improve rice farming to reduce methane emissions Impact to Biodiversity Global warming: Changes species distribution Increases extinction rates Changes the reproduction timings Changes length of growing seasons for plant Climate Change Drives Species to Extinction Some first know victims of climate change i. Golden toad ii. Monteverde harlequin frog Many more predicted to follow suite due to current rate of temperature increase Linkages – Biodiversity & Climate Change Biodiversity is affected by Climate Change whereas Proper management of biodiversity significantly reduces impacts of climate change Climate change will never be excluded from our system, but can be mitigated/reduced Marine Biodiversity Elevated sea temperature causes coral bleaching El Nino event in 1998 was a wake up call for scientists and decision makers - 16 % of world’s corals died - 46 % of corals in Western Indian Ocean Whereas in 2000 - 12 % corals died in Sodwana Bay Kerry Sink Kerry Sink Climate Change & Inland Water Ecosystems • > 20% of freshwater fish species - extinct • Continuing to decline faster than terrestrial • Drier conditions – increase water demands thereby causing a loss of ecosystem services Mitigation Options • Avoid: – wetlands degradation/transformation – draining peatlands and swamps – potential emission of greenhouse gases – inland water habitat fragmentations – overexploitation of aquatic resources KZN Provincial CC Mitigations Altitudinal gradient Ecological processes C-Plan – allow other land use Biogeographic Greening strategies and guidelines Linkages of sub-themes Climate Change Greenhouse Gas Emission Natural Resource (Biodiversity) Green Economy Sustainable Livelihoods Summary • • • • • • • • • Reduce activities causing greenhouse gases emissions Practice agriculture that doesn’t promote global warming Create connectivity to allow species migration Limit anthropogenic climate change Ensure biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources Develop greening strategies & implementation plans Plant commercial forestations/crops on designated agricultural land – avoid prime conservation sites Encourage green economy – renewable energy No to pollution, resource depletion etc. Discussions