The climate is warming and the weather is becoming more extreme. This poses a threat to ecosystems and species. Warming and altered precipitation patterns caused by climate change have consequences for the presence of plant and animal species.

In general, species with a southern range – warm-loving species such as lizards – can profit from climate change. Species with a northern range – cold-loving species such as the Moor Frog – will decline in numbers. 

Photo: Roel Hoeve

Climate change also has a direct effect on habitat quality. Ecosystems like wet heath, raised bog, wet grassland and marsh are particularly vulnerable because they are sensitive to more extreme weather and drought. Moreover, climate change is an additional threat to the problems already posed by poor environmental, water and land use conditions. For example, half of the native Dutch plant species that are vulnerable to both habitat fragmentation and climate change are declining in numbers, whereas a similar negative trend is found in only 20% of the species that are vulnerable to habitat fragmentation alone.

Half of the native Dutch plant species that are vulnerable to both habitat fragmentation and climate change are declining in numbers, whereas a similar negative trend is found in only 20% of the species that are vulnerable to fragmentation alone.

(Source: Ozinga et al., 2007)