Written by: Salma Al-Saqqa
A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Helsinki revealed that the degradation of natural habitats poses a greater threat to biodiversity in Finland than the general focus on climate change might suggest. The findings indicated that habitat composition provides a better explanation than climate regarding the presence and abundance of most animal groups, highlighting the critical importance of land-use planning in protecting wildlife.
The Impact of Habitat on Various Species
The study noted that habitat quality plays a pivotal and decisive role for butterflies, birds, and small mammals. Conversely, the relative importance of both climate and habitat was equal for large mammals and moths. The research involved analyzing over three million observations of 503 wild animal species over 20 years, covering various climatic regions in Finland using advanced statistical methods.
Climatic Variation vs. Local Diversity
While climate is the most prominent factor in explaining differences between northern and southern regions in Finland, the importance of habitat emerges when examining variations in biodiversity at local and regional levels. Data show that forested areas support species communities that are entirely different from those found in agricultural environments or wetlands, meaning that land-use decisions directly affect the location and presence of these biological communities.
The Relationship Between Biological Characteristics and Climate
Scientists also investigated the impact of species' functional traits, such as body size and reproductive cycle rate, on the extent of their vulnerability to climate or habitat. It was found that species with slow reproductive cycles were more sensitive to climatic conditions, while small mammals that prefer specific habitats or diets relied heavily on climate, whereas the importance of habitat was more pronounced for larger and less specialized mammalian species.
Biodiversity Conservation Strategies
The researchers emphasized that biodiversity loss cannot be attributed to climate change alone; rather, land use may have a more decisive impact, especially at the local level. To preserve biodiversity, efforts to protect and restore remaining habitats must be intensified, as maintaining habitat diversity also helps species adapt to climate change. Habitat protection is an effective and locally manageable way to confront environmental challenges.
