Consecutive Climate Disasters Make Southeast Asia a High-Risk Region for Wildlife

KOMPAS.com - Southeast Asia is predicted to become one of the epicentres of extreme heatwaves that will threaten the safety of thousands of terrestrial vertebrate species. The future of Earth’s biodiversity is in a state of high alert. A recent study reveals that more than a third of wildlife habitats worldwide are at risk of facing compound climate disasters by 2085 if the rate of global warming is not urgently curbed. Stefanie Heinicke from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in Germany mapped these risk locations. She found that the main concern is not a single type of disaster, but repeated shocks hitting the same habitat in a short period. One fire or flood event might kill wildlife directly. However, a second shock—such as a drought following a fire—can cut off animals’ access to food, shelter, and breeding sites. This phenomenon was clearly seen during the major fires (megafires) in Australia in 2019-2020. In areas previously hit by severe drought, the decline in flora and fauna populations was recorded as 27 to 40 percent greater than in areas not experiencing drought before the fires. “I think climate change, especially extreme events, is still very underestimated in conservation planning,” Heinicke emphasised in her report published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, quoted by Earth.com. Heatwaves are predicted to be the most widespread threat. By 2050, it is estimated that 74 percent of terrestrial vertebrate ranges will be exposed to extreme heatwaves. High-risk areas include the Amazon Basin in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. By 2085, this heat exposure is estimated to reach 93 percent of currently known ranges, leaving very few “cool safe spots” for wildlife within their native habitats. Besides heat, forest fires rank second as the most widespread threat, surpassing droughts. Meanwhile, amphibians are the most vulnerable group to drought exposure due to their reliance on skin moisture and ponds for breeding. This risk map provides biological guidance for conservation teams to take more targeted actions.