Climate change: How mild winters wreak havoc on wildlife!

Climate change has increasingly shown its negative effects in recent years, especially during the winter months. Mild weather and late frosts in 2024 will have a significant impact on wildlife, particularly hibernating animals. The managing director of the Freising-Erding district group of the Federal Nature Conservation Association, Manfred Drobny, explained in this context that many animals wake up too early due to the warm temperatures and often have difficulty finding enough food. This particularly affects hedgehogs, dormice and mice, which suffer greatly from the mild weather.

Another worrying aspect is that the mild winter cold is important for regulating biodiversity and the population of pests. With warmer winters, pests that normally wouldn't survive have the opportunity to multiply. Storks and other migratory birds are also showing an increasing tendency to stay in their home regions during the winter, which may be beneficial for some species.

Negative influences on ecosystems

The impacts of climate change on biodiversity are profound. Scientific evidence shows that global warming is not only shifting habitats, but also affecting species populations and their distribution areas. In particular, human activity, such as the emission of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels, livestock farming and industrial processes, contributes significantly to global warming. Species that cannot adapt quickly enough are at increased risk of extinction.

Changing climatic conditions and ocean acidification are endangering many marine habitats, especially coral reefs. The loss of biodiversity has not only ecological but also economic consequences, including impacts on agriculture, fishing and tourism. There is therefore an urgent need for action to combat species extinction. Adaptation strategies of flora and fauna could include physical and behavioral changes to cope with changing conditions.

Recommended measures include conservation of protected areas, restoration of degraded ecosystems and sustainable land use. Collaboration between research and politics is crucial in order to develop effective measures to protect biodiversity, as the expert knowledge underlines, including through innovative technologies and international cooperation.