New Portfolio Approach to Conservation Could Save Species from Climate Crisis
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: Renowned ecologist Camille Parmesan advocates for a flexible, portfolio-based approach to biodiversity conservation that protects both current and potential future habitats to help species adapt to climate change.
📈 One key stat: Ground temperatures as high as 78°C (172.4°F) are forcing species like butterflies to adapt their behaviors, highlighting the extreme conditions wildlife now faces due to climate change.
💬 One key quote: “We need to change the way we think of conservation, away from strict protection toward something more like a good insurance portfolio.”
1️⃣ The big picture: Camille Parmesan, a world-renowned ecologist who first demonstrated climate change’s impact on wild species, is advocating for a fundamental shift in biodiversity conservation strategies. As climate change forces species to relocate to survive, traditional approaches of simply protecting current habitats are proving insufficient. Parmesan suggests implementing a portfolio-based conservation model that protects both existing habitats and potential future ones, creating wildlife corridors between them. Her research on butterflies shows that species can adapt to some degree, but the rapid pace of climate change exceeds most species’ evolutionary capacity without intervention.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Some species show remarkable resilience when given proper conservation support, as demonstrated by the Quino checkerspot butterfly that successfully colonized both restored lowland habitats and new higher-elevation areas. Conservation efforts that protect a diversity of locations rather than just current habitats create multiple pathways for species survival. The portfolio approach to conservation planning uses advanced modeling to identify robust protection strategies that work across many possible climate futures. This flexible conservation framework acknowledges uncertainty while maximizing chances for biodiversity preservation, allowing species to potentially recolonize and thrive when climate conditions eventually stabilize.
3️⃣ What’s next: Scientists need to spend more time observing organisms in their natural habitats to fully understand how they’re adapting to climate change. Conservation plans should protect 30-50% of land and oceans as relatively natural habitat with corridors connecting these areas. Public engagement can play a crucial role, with even backyard gardens serving as potential wildlife corridors when left partially wild.
Read the full story here: The Conversation – ‘We need to rethink how we approach biodiversity’: an interview with IPCC ecologist and ‘refugee scientist’ Camille Parmesan
