Top 10 Places to Save for Endangered Species in a Warming World

Arctic Sea Ice

Shallow Water Coral Reefs

The Hawaiian Islands

California Sierra Nevada Mountains

The Bay-Delta

Southwest Deserts

The Snake River Basin

Greater Yellowstone

The Greater Everglades

The Gulf Coast Flatlands and Wetlands

Additional Ecosystems

Not all of the ecosystems nominated are in the final selection, yet they are nonetheless important (the scores were close) and are included below. As science and conservation focus on ecosystem protection in a time of climate change these will undoubtedly receive attention and concern.

Glacier National Park: Scientists predict that Glacier National Park will lose all of its glaciers by 2030. This ecosystem provides a home for the mist forestfly, bull trout, and grizzly bear. Though it is unlikely that the mist forestfly will survive, conservation measures to protect the forestfly, bull trout, and grizzly bear must be undertaken. (WildEarth Guardians)

Jemez Mountains: Mixed conifer forests and riparian areas in New Mexico’s Jemez Mountains are affected by climate change: warmer temperatures, less precipitation, susceptibility to forest fires, and insect outbreaks. The Jemez Mountains salamander and the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse are imperiled in part due to climate change. Other ESA-listed species that will suffer from climate change include the Canada lynx and Mexican spotted owl. River and stream restoration and beaver reintroduction can increase this ecosystem’s resilience. (WildEarth Guardians)

Sagebrush steppe: The sagebrush steppe covers more than 100 million acres in the West, but less than 5% receives federal protection. It is among the most imperiled landscapes in North America facing numerous threats that will be exacerbated by climate change. Greater sage-grouse are an umbrella species for scores of sensitive sagebrush flora and fauna and will experience severe negative impacts from climate change. The government agencies should designate additional sagebrush reserves to protect important habitat cores and corridors for sage-grouse and other species. (WildEarth Guardians)

U.S. Western Coast: The entire population of the Western Snowy Plover winters from Southern Washington to the Mexican border. The main climate change threat to beaches and their wildlife is sea level rise. Beaches see heavy human use; and as their total area decreases with climate change, recreational and commercial use will encroach upon animal habitat. (Audubon)

The Maine Woods: The Maine Woods encompass an undeveloped expanse of forestland of more than 17 million acres stretching from the New Hampshire border on the west to the New Brunswick border on the east and north to Quebec. This is the last U.S. stronghold of native brook trout, a primary breeding area for neotropical migratory songbirds, and home to several endangered and threatened species, including Canada lynx, Atlantic salmon, wood turtle, Bicknell’s thrush, yellow lampmussel, and Tomah mayfly. If permanently protected, it could provide habitat for species adaptation and carbon storage in a naturally reproducing forest. (RESTORE: The North Woods)

Grasslands: National Grasslands comprise 4 million acres of large, rolling terrains of grasses, flowers and herbs that extend down the midsection of the continental United States. They are home to a variety of threatened and/or endangered species including a number of prairie wildfowl, the black-footed ferret, and the Wyoming Toad. Grasslands in the Great Plains are predicted to get warmer, while Southwestern grasslands are expected to become drier. Grassland restoration, invasive species eradication and other conservation measures can protect this ecosystem. (ARKive)

Southern Rockies: Canada lynx and wolverines use this mountainous ecosystem because of its prey base, persistent snow coverage, and cold temperatures. Given its higher elevation habitat, the Southern Rockies could provide an important refuge for endangered species pressured by climate change. This ecosystem and wildlife corridors connecting its core habitats can be preserved for wide-ranging species through protections such as wilderness designation and by limiting the number of roads and developments within important wildlife areas in the Southern Rockies. (Center for Native Ecosystems)