Happy Africa Day! Today, and everyday, we celebrate the continent’s beauty and diversity! Africa is home to eight of the planet’s 36 recognized biodiversity hotspots – and the continent harbors about a quarter of all mammal species found on earth, and nearly one-fifth of the world’s bird species. And, this exceptional species richness plays a major role in mitigating the impacts of global climate change. Africa’s diverse ecosystems – and the biodiversity they hold – are a natural carbon sink. This means preserving the continent’s richness of species is critical. Protecting biodiversity amplifies the landscape’s natural carbon capture potential -- largely because the natural behaviors of many species help to increase their habitat’s capacity for carbon storage. For instance, large browsing herbivores, like elephants and giraffes habitually trample and forage vegetation, helping to create space and provide nutrients for larger trees, while smaller herbivores disperse seeds in their droppings. Predators, like cheetahs, keep the ecosystem in balance, regulating herbivorous populations – and preventing overgrazing and soil degradation. Want to learn more about our efforts to protect one of the continent’s most iconic species? Visit cheetah.org 📷 by photographer Allegra Hutton (Find her on Instagram @allegrahutton)
jane sargent
6mo
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