New Species Discovered in Eastern Himalayas Face Uncertainty
The fragile ecosystems of the Eastern Himalayas have been proven to harbor incredible biological diversity in recent years — a diversity now threatened by global climate change, a new report finds.
A new report (pdf) by the WWF, The Eastern Himalayas: Where Worlds Collide, describes more than 350 new species discovered in the last decade including 244 plants, 16 amphibians, 16 reptiles, 14 fish, 2 birds, 2 mammals and at least 60 new invertebrates. But all of the species discoveries made in the Eastern Himalayas in the last decade may be overshadowed by a rapidly changing climate.
“These exciting finds reinforce just how little we now about the world around us,” said Mark Wright, WWF’s conservation science advisor, adding that the Eastern Himalayas are a region of extraordinary beauty, with some of the most biologically rich areas on the planet.
“Ironically,” said Wright, “it is also one of the regions most at risk from climate change, as evidenced by the rapid retreat of the glaciers, and only time will tell how well species will be able to adapt – if at all.”
Among the recent discoveries are a bright green frog (Rhacophorus suffry) which uses its red and long webbed feet to glide in the air, and the miniature muntjac, also called the “leaf deer”, which is the world’s
oldest and smallest deer species. Scientists initially believed the small creature found in the world’s largest mountain range, was a juvenile of another species but DNA tests confirmed the light brown
animal with dark eyes was a distinct and new species.
The discoveries were made in a region spanning Bhutan and northeastern India to the far north of Myanmar as well as Nepal and southern parts of Tibet.
According to the report, the region harbors a staggering 10,000 plant species, 300 mammal species, 977 bird species, 176 reptiles, 105 amphibians and 269 types of freshwater fish. The region also has the highest density of the Bengal tiger and is the last bastion of the charismatic greater one-horned rhino.
Bringing attention to the Himalayas
Despite protection efforts, in the last half-century, this area of South Asia has faced a wave of pressures as a result of human population growth and the increasing demand for commodities by global and regional markets. The host of threats include forest destruction from unsustainable and illegal logging, agriculture, uncontrolled fuel wood collection, overgrazing by domestic livestock, illegal poaching and wildlife trade, hydropower development, and infrastructure. The region is also among the most vulnerable to global climate change, which will exacerbate the impacts of these threats.
To bring the plight of the Himalayas to the attention of the world, the WWF has launched the Climate for Life campaign and is working with local communities to help them cope with the impacts of climate change, however significant action has to be taken by developed countries.
The WWF is also calling on world leaders attending the climate change talks in Copenhagen this December to commit to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by industrialized countries of 40% by 2020 (from 1990 levels).
“There is no room for compromise on this issue,” said Wright. “Without these cuts the Himalayas face a precarious future – impacting both the unique wildlife and the 20% of humanity who rely on the river systems that arise in these mountains.”
Images: © Milivoje Krvavac / WWF Nepal; © Totul Bortamuli / WWF Nepal
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