Protected areas will only help species migrating to escape a warming climate if enough of them, strategically located, allow for reproduction, a study of the English countryside showed Wednesday.  

With humanity's numbers set to pass nine billion by mid-century, many animals and plants on our crowded planet are severely threatened by shrinking habitat. Experts say that carving out nature preserves is essential for their long-term survival.

But a new study published by the Royal Society concludes that species in Britain seeking to adapt to climate change through migration could fail because some strategically located breeding habitats across the country remain unprotected. From butterflies to birds, study co-lead author Tom Travers says the findings apply to thousands of species of plants, animals and even bacteria.

"It's likely that more species are needing to move than aren't." Researchers led by Travers measured which habitats across the British countryside – even if they are not joined up – could provide crucial links for populations on the move. 

"This leaves species that use those habitats vulnerable under climate change."

As the climate warms, animals and plants are likely to adapt by migrating northward over generations. To determine which areas were crucial for that movement, the scientists imagined a map as if it showed electric current flowing from south to north.

Habitats were only considered to provide "connectivity" if they consist of lands that a species' offspring could reach and settle on long enough to reproduce.

"Where would offspring produced from those patches be able to reach in the next generation?" explained Travers.

Researchers modeled networks for 16 types of habitats, including deciduous woodlands, mudflats and lowland meadows. 

Some habitats – like maritime cliffs and coastal sand dunes – were too broken up or spread out to be included.

Some key areas for facilitating south-north movement, the researchers found, were not adequately protected under current standards.

But the study says if done strategically, expanding protected areas by only 10 percent would enhance functional "connectivity" by more than 40 percent.

(Cover image via VCG)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)