Landscapes around the world are suffering due to the fragmentation of habitat and land use changes. Resulting in the places we, and wildlife call home, becoming more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This has been evident across Australia for years; Black Summer was a strong message that we needed to make big changes urgently, but not enough has been done and challenges continue.
With rising temperatures jeopardising the survival of up to one million species of wildlife, it’s easy to view animals as purely victims of the climate crisis. But what if we also viewed them as our allies in addressing it? We know we need to rapidly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and investing in green energy and more sustainable infrastructure is important. However, nature-based solutions are powerful, crucial – and often overlooked.
Protecting and restoring wild animals and their habitat could account for over a third of the carbon capture needed to mitigate the worst effects of climate change; in fact wildlife enables natural ecosystems to absorb and store more carbon. By safeguarding wildlife on land and in our oceans, we not only address biodiversity loss but also tackle climate change head on.
One of the main ways in which carbon sequestration can occur is through biological sequestration. This refers to the CO2 that is captured and stored by animals, plants and the soil. Much of this sequestration occurs in carbon sinks—natural features that absorb large amounts of CO2 such as forests, the ocean, and swamps (wetlands and peatlands).
Experts have found that strong, healthy populations of just nine different types of animals, including sea otters, grey wolves, and whales, could lead to the capture of 6.41 gigatons of CO2 every year. This represents 95% of the CO2 that needs to be removed from the atmosphere to ensure global warming remains below 1.5°C.
There are many ways in which animals contribute to carbon sequestration: Their natural behaviours increase ecosystems’ carbon storage capacity. Many animals perform carbon-sequestering roles as a part of their day-to-day lives. In particular, large vertebrates can increase an ecosystem’s carbon storage capacity by up to 250% through behaviours such as trampling, burrowing, and foraging.
They support the growth of carbon-sequestering trees and plants. Many herbivore species disperse seeds in their faeces after eating plants, facilitating the growth of carbon-sequestering trees and plants. Others, like elephants, trample or eat the vegetation that would otherwise rob those trees of space and nutrients. This frees up room for carbon-sequestering vegetation to grow and means they do not have to compete with other foliage.
They keep the ecosystem in balance. The ecosystems of the world are all finely balanced and keep themselves in check. Predators prey on herbivores that, without predation, might adversely impact essential fauna. This, in turn, ensures that carbon-sequestering plants can thrive at the correct levels in the environment.
For example, whales feed phytoplankton—tiny, plant-like organisms that float in the water—with their faeces and help them thrive. Through photosynthesis, these phytoplankton capture roughly 37 billion tonnes of CO2 per year, equivalent to 40% of the total CO2 capture on the planet.
That’s why at IFAW we not only rescue animals (many of which need help because of the effects of climate change) but we also strive to protect the places they call home. We do this by growing and linking habitats, fostering a sense of stewardship and empowering communities to care for their local ecosystems, and advocate for policy changes that give our wildlife a chance to thrive.
Nature-based solutions don’t just protect wildlife; they also make people and the planet more resilient to the changing climate. We owe it to future generations to make our planet a home where animals and humans thrive together.
By International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
Top Image: Amboseli Comms Summit
February 2025