Study warns climate change and invasive species threaten 16,500 islands

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) warns that by 2050, nearly all of the 16,500 islands analyzed globally will face critical threats. These risks include climate change, land-use changes, and biological invasions.

Researchers from AgroParisTech, CNRS, and the University of Paris-Saclay identified climate change as the primary risk factor for 65% of these territories. Land-use transformation affects 22%, while invasive species impact 13%, with the most severe effects expected in the Pacific, Southeast Asia, and Northern Europe.

While islands represent only 7% of Earth's land surface, they host approximately 20% of global biodiversity. However, they remain underrepresented in international conservation policies. The report notes that island environments account for 75% of documented human-caused extinctions globally.

Thirty-one nations were identified as having high concentrations of critical exposure points. France, Seychelles, China, Fiji, Denmark, and Japan are among the countries with highly vulnerable island territories. Researchers urge governments to prioritize ecosystem restoration and the expansion of protected areas to prevent irreversible species loss.