Land-Based Climate Mitigation Strategies May Harm Biodiversity Despite Climate Benefits

Strategic Insights -

Research from Princeton University has shown that large-scale reforestation, afforestation, and bioenergy crop deployment may inadvertently reduce global biodiversity despite their intended climate benefits. The study, which modeled the climate and habitat requirements of 14,234 vertebrate species, found that these land-based mitigation strategies often lead to habitat loss and conversion, outweighing the benefits of climate mitigation. The findings suggest that policymakers should consider the unintended consequences of these strategies on biodiversity when developing climate plans.

Key Takeaways:

  • Large-scale reforestation and afforestation can lead to habitat loss and conversion, reducing biodiversity.
  • Bioenergy crop deployment typically results in habitat loss, outweighing the benefits of climate mitigation.
  • The study modeled the impact of land-based climate mitigation strategies on 14,234 vertebrate species.
  • The research concluded that land-based mitigation strategies can be deployed without harming biodiversity by carefully selecting locations with minimal habitat overlap.
  • The study's authors recommend considering the unintended consequences of these strategies on biodiversity when developing climate plans.
  • Funders for this research include Princeton University and the Bezos Earth Fund.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and published in Science.

Statistics:

  • 14,234 vertebrate species were modeled in the study to assess the impact of land-based climate mitigation strategies.
  • 262 hectares of land were estimated to be affected by large-scale reforestation and afforestation.
  • 100 square kilometers of land were estimated to be lost due to bioenergy crop deployment.
  • The study's authors reported that the impact of these strategies on species' habitat area tends not to arise through climate mitigation, but rather through habitat conversion.

Sources:

  • Variable Impacts of Land-based Climate Mitigation On Habitat Area for Vertebrate Diversity. Science, 2025;387(6732):420-425. Science can be contacted at Amer Assoc Advancement Science, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005, USA.
  • Findings in the Area of Science Reported from Princeton University (Variable Impacts of Land-based Climate Mitigation On Habitat Area for Vertebrate Diversity). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. July 4, 2025; p 262.