Faidherbia albida and climate change

What is it about?

Given recent and predicted changes in climatic conditions as well as the impacts of these changes on species distribution, adaptation and mitigation measures are needed to sustain agricultural production systems. Here, we assessed how such change in rainfall and temperature patterns would alter the ecological niche of the ecologically and economically important tree F. albida in the Tigray region of Northern Ethiopia.

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Why is it important?

We identify suitable areas for the occurrence of F. albida under both current and future climatic conditions, thereby accounting for the impacts of climate change on the distribution of the species. Our findings reveal that although the current niche of the species is predicted to shrink in the future, much greater new potential areas will occur. Therefore, the species does not appear to face a significant reduction in distribution within the study region and stands as a potential candidate for climate change adaptation/mitigation. Further management interventions such as the planting of new trees or conservation of existing stands should be directed to these new potential areas to ensure the long term existence and occurrence of F. albida in drylands of Northern Ethiopia.

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