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S. Chatterjee and A. Tandon
Bergmann 1999). In contrast, 90% decline of the abundance of Sooty Shearwaters
(Puffinus griseus) in western North America between 1987 and 1994 (Veit et al.
1996, 1997) was reported and the main cause was rapid warming of the California
current. Changes in ocean temperature which give rise to the event like El Niño also
have widespread ecological effects and could change the population sizes of intertidal invertebrates along with coast lines (Barry et al. 1995). In the Antarctic, due to
gradual increase in temperature ice cover is reducing and animals such as penguins
are the worst affected. Precipitation is also a determining factor for conservation
where variation of precipitation level could change the natural systems; e.g., moisture sensitive ponderosa pine forest (Pinus ponderosa) and piñon-juniper woodland
(Pinus edulis and Juniperus monosperma) in New Mexico response abruptly in their
distributions pattern (Allen and Breshears 1998). Negative effects have also been
evident when precipitation occur in the form of snow; e.g. browsing and grazing animals like muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) and deer have suffered significantly when
they search for food and try to save themselves from predators (Forchhammer and
Boertmann 1993; Post and Stenseth 1999). It should be remembered that the ‘proportion of species extinction is a power function of the expected global warming’
(Hansen et al. 2010). Therefore, any attempt to minimize global warming could result
in non-linear effects in the protection of species from extinction (Hansen et al. 2010).
Therefore, our focus should have been on the act to reduce global warming instead
of focussing on its effect on biodiversity. In parallel, we should plan to reduce other
global change drivers so that overall resilience of biodiversity against the climate
change could have been increased significantly (Hughes et al. 2003).
Climatic changes are not only responsible for negative effect on ecosystem but
also have some positive effects on biodiversity. Accelerated growth has been noticed
in many plant species due to more pleasant temperatures and due to increased CO 2
level. Many threatened species could have survived because of milder winters and
increased precipitation may also be beneficial for several plant species and plant
communities.
5 Climate Migration and Socio-economic Effect
Extinction and shifting of non-Homo sapiens are not the only consequences of climate change; human migration is also a major issue in this respect. During the last
few decades increasing climate related incidences have led people to migrate to
safer places from less habitable ones and allowing new economic activities such as
agriculture, industry related job opportunity or tourism. But it is difficult to estimate how many people might have moved partially in response to different natural
calamities such as drought, forest fires, or desertification. It is obvious that patterns
of migration and displacement are highly influenced by changing climate and therefore policy-makers are trying to understand its mechanism which may help them
to frame the policies to tackle it. The vulnerability, capacity and impacts of human
migration should not be addressed only in view of disaster risk management efforts
S. Chatterjee and A. Tandon
Bergmann 1999). In contrast, 90% decline of the abundance of Sooty Shearwaters
(Puffinus griseus) in western North America between 1987 and 1994 (Veit et al.
1996, 1997) was reported and the main cause was rapid warming of the California
current. Changes in ocean temperature which give rise to the event like El Niño also
have widespread ecological effects and could change the population sizes of intertidal invertebrates along with coast lines (Barry et al. 1995). In the Antarctic, due to
gradual increase in temperature ice cover is reducing and animals such as penguins
are the worst affected. Precipitation is also a determining factor for conservation
where variation of precipitation level could change the natural systems; e.g., moisture sensitive ponderosa pine forest (Pinus ponderosa) and piñon-juniper woodland
(Pinus edulis and Juniperus monosperma) in New Mexico response abruptly in their
distributions pattern (Allen and Breshears 1998). Negative effects have also been
evident when precipitation occur in the form of snow; e.g. browsing and grazing animals like muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) and deer have suffered significantly when
they search for food and try to save themselves from predators (Forchhammer and
Boertmann 1993; Post and Stenseth 1999). It should be remembered that the ‘proportion of species extinction is a power function of the expected global warming’
(Hansen et al. 2010). Therefore, any attempt to minimize global warming could result
in non-linear effects in the protection of species from extinction (Hansen et al. 2010).
Therefore, our focus should have been on the act to reduce global warming instead
of focussing on its effect on biodiversity. In parallel, we should plan to reduce other
global change drivers so that overall resilience of biodiversity against the climate
change could have been increased significantly (Hughes et al. 2003).
Climatic changes are not only responsible for negative effect on ecosystem but
also have some positive effects on biodiversity. Accelerated growth has been noticed
in many plant species due to more pleasant temperatures and due to increased CO 2
level. Many threatened species could have survived because of milder winters and
increased precipitation may also be beneficial for several plant species and plant
communities.
5 Climate Migration and Socio-economic Effect
Extinction and shifting of non-Homo sapiens are not the only consequences of climate change; human migration is also a major issue in this respect. During the last
few decades increasing climate related incidences have led people to migrate to
safer places from less habitable ones and allowing new economic activities such as
agriculture, industry related job opportunity or tourism. But it is difficult to estimate how many people might have moved partially in response to different natural
calamities such as drought, forest fires, or desertification. It is obvious that patterns
of migration and displacement are highly influenced by changing climate and therefore policy-makers are trying to understand its mechanism which may help them
to frame the policies to tackle it. The vulnerability, capacity and impacts of human
migration should not be addressed only in view of disaster risk management efforts