Climate change is coming, whether we cut greenhouse emissions or not. Given that any large change in the climate will have an effect on wildlife and it is possible that a significant number of species will be lost to climate changes, should we be trying to help nature out by relocating some of the most endangered species?

It’s an issue that sparked much heated debate – some believe that we should help the most endangered species move climates that they are more at home in, whilst others believe we shouldn’t tamper so much and should let nature run her course.

A recent study in the magazine Nature showed that two thirds of all species may have to move by 2050 thanks to climate change. So do humans have a duty to help some species adapt and to relocate others?

Climate change appears to be a big threat for species diversity on Earth – if the planet continues to heat up, we could lose many species, lessening the diversity we now enjoy. However, if we relocated some animals to a cooler climate – generally speaking to more northern environments – we may be able to retain much of our current diversity.

However, climate change has happened in our planet’s past. Climate change is normal for Earth and therefore is also normal for both animals and plants alike – they have had to adjust in the past and will likely do so in the future. In fact, climate change may actually help some species of animal which will thrive as their food sources become wider and more prevalent thanks to the warmer climate.

Helping animals relocate makes many feel uneasy. For one thing, it is nearly impossible to predict the effects that introducing non-native animals into an ecosystem will bring – there is the possibility that the artificial migration of animals may do more harm than good.

As of this moment, there is no answer to the debate however with green issues becoming more and more prevalent in the public domain, expect to hear more on this issue in the future.

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