Ecosystems have always had to adapt to changing climatic conditions. The current rate of climate change is highest ever recorded. It is obvious that anthropogenic activities have impacted biodiversity – directly through the destruction of habitats, and indirectly through climate change. If rapid and irreversible change in biodiversity is to be avoided, conservation strategies need to focus more on supporting the species’ natural capacity to adapt to change. Helping species to adapt may also avoid the loss of important ecosystem services and the cultural and economic values attached to particular species.

Biodiversity also plays a crucial but often underestimated role in the mitigation of climate change. Biological diversity of ecosystems is a key factor in ensuring the natural processes undertaken by ecosystems. Maintaining local biodiversity and increasing green space, in particular forest areas, therefore are significant and effective contributions towards protecting the global climate

WOTR works with the communities to better understand and document the biodiversity in their surroundings, in a hope to help to arrest the worldwide trend of declining ecosystem health. We at WOTR strongly believe that conservation of biodiversity must be incorporated into development policies and strategies that bring social and economic benefits to the communities and help them adapt to Climate Change.

WOTR also is involved in setting up of People’s Biodiversity Registers to address the biodiversity concerns in WSD and other developmental activities; to create an awareness in the community about the importance of promoting, conserving and protecting the local biodiversity; to keep a record of the local biodiversity through participatory mapping and recording of the biodiversity, and to capacitate the community to address the biodiversity concerns in the decisions taken by the local bodies.