The earth is fast warming up as predicted by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) landmark scientific report back in 2018. It warned that there are only 12 years left for action, if global warming is to be kept to a maximum of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Predicted adverse weather conditions include risks of drought, floods, extreme heat, and poverty for hundreds of millions of people.
Are environmental laws to protect keystone species tight enough?
Scientists have suggested one of various solutions to address the looming climate disaster is by managing keystone species loss, because these animals are vital to sustaining ecosystems.
African forest elephants, sea otters, tapirs, whales, and wolves are all essential in the fight against climate change. As keystone species, their role is key in the ecosystem.
Recent articles indicate restoring the populations of a few important groups of animals could possibly help capture huge amounts of carbon from the air and therefore play a role in limiting global warming. This is the point made by the University of Oxford.
Other studies have mentioned animals such as bison, elephants, whales, sharks and other massive wild animals as important for carbon storage in their bodies.
The Center for Environmental rights in South Africa made the point that animals such as keystone species are vulnerable due to environmental laws and policies that are not tight enough. Such laws affect the conservation of species, how animals in captivity are treated, breeding practices, hunting and trading in wild animals affects species conservation.
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