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Climate co-benefits of tiger conservation
Aakash Lamba1,2, Hoong Chen Teo3,4, Rachakonda Sreekar3,4
1Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. aakash.lamba@u.nus.edu.
Nature Ecology & Evolution
|May 25, 2023
Summary
Tiger conservation efforts in India have successfully averted significant forest loss, leading to substantial carbon sequestration. This biodiversity strategy demonstrates a positive co-benefit for climate change mitigation through nature-based solutions.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Climate Science
Background:
- Biodiversity conservation is a recognized co-benefit of climate change mitigation via nature-based solutions.
- Climate co-benefits of biodiversity conservation interventions, like habitat protection, are understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the forest carbon storage co-benefits of a national tiger conservation policy in India.
- To assess the impact of enhanced protection for tiger conservation on forest carbon sequestration.
Main Methods:
- Employed a synthetic control approach to model avoided forest loss and carbon emissions.
- Analyzed protected areas undergoing enhanced protection for tiger conservation (Panthera tigris).
- Evaluated changes in deforestation rates and carbon emissions between 2007 and 2020.
Main Results:
- A net positive benefit was observed, with 5,802 hectares of forest loss averted.
- Avoided emissions totaled 1.08 ± 0.51 MtCO2 equivalent, valued at US$92.55 ± 43.56 million in ecosystem services.
- 24% of reserves showed reduced deforestation; 9% experienced increased forest loss, indicating mixed effects.
Conclusions:
- Tiger conservation strategies can yield significant carbon sequestration co-benefits.
- This study provides a quantitative method to track carbon sequestration from species conservation.
- Aligning biodiversity conservation and climate action objectives is feasible and beneficial.
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