IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON BIODIVERSITY WITH EMPHASIS ON PROTECTED AREAS, ECOSYSTEMS AND SPECIES PRESENTED BY Kawsu Jammeh, Manager Programme of Work on Protected Areas

OUTLINE Status of protected areas, ecosystems and species Direct impacts on wildlife species Potential mitigation of climate change impacts on biodiversity Introduction: Impacts of climate Conclusion Data source and method of collection

Protected Areas 8 NP/R, 66 FP, 2 IM/B, 5 YL, New PA Governance, Agro-ecosystems management (SLM), Integrated Water Resources Management

Biodiversity Monitoring System African Waterbird Census Rice and Mangrove Survey 2005/6 Monitoring of Bijol Islands (Breeding and Non-breeding season) 1999 Manatee monitoring, turtle monitoring, METT and RAPPAM, Sitatunga monitoring, Hippo monitoring, Crocodile survey, Chimpazee monitoring, Dolphin and Whale survey. source and method of data collection

 Land cover degradation and erratic rainfall  Mangrove retreat and dieback  Habitat alteration and force species adaptability  Ground water depletion and salinization  Species distribution  Invasive species CC impact on Ecosystems Sea level rise is expected to have substantial negative impact on marine and coastal ecosystems

Marine ecosystems are affected in the case of the following;  increase in sea temperature and changes in ocean circulation,  ocean acidification,. Habitat modification resulting from climate change would put the population of Nile crocodiles and African Rock pythons at great risk

Land-base wildlife are expected to face  fodder shortage or degradation in quality,  habitat degradation  lose of weight or tendency towards smaller body size.  species lost and extinction,  increase pest population, inter and intra competition for food and  limit reproductive success in species Impacts on Wildlife-Animals

 Mistiming of biological events E.G. BREEDING Evidence suggest that shift in timing of biological event has resulted in mistiming with respect to the availability of resources such as food. Sea level rise Sea level rise may flood nest of birds breeding on low-lying coastal areas e.g. Terns Migratory Birds, and the Impacts of Climate Change

 Breeding Range Shifts Is well known that species range depends on temperature and many species of birds have shifted their breeding range polewards E.G. Little egret  Changes in the timing of biological events Increasing number of migratory birds are opting to capitalized on milder condition in Europe, e.g. Greenshank, a normally long- distant migrant to Africa is now over wintering in Mediterranean in large numbers

Changes in rainfall Water birds are particularly vulnerable to changes in rainfall because of their dependence on wetlands. Population impacts Extreme temperature and rainfall tend to lower the survival and productivity of water birds. Cold temperature can cause mortality in chick while high temperature can cause heat strain and death Coastal erosion Bijol islands is being washed away. NNP and TBR is eroding unprecedentedly due to sea level rise

Niumi National Park Nuimi National Park

CONCLUSION Protected area serve as climate change resilient for species Increase protected areas coverage and ensuring effectiveness. Promote restoration and rehabilitation of degraded areas and mangrove Livelihood projects for community dwelling around Pas Examples of modelling using Habitat Suitability Index(HSI) have shown that the suitability of habitats for Dwarf crocodiles and Osprey species in the Gambia is highly reduced. Degraded ecosystems will jeopardise the country’s ability to meet the Millennium Development Goals of reducing poverty, hunger and disease. Better adaptive strategies and capacities are key to communities ability to successfully cope with climate change in these ecosystems

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENT