Safeguarding sloths and anteaters in the future: Priority areas for conservation under climate change

Background

Sloths and anteaters come from the order Pilosa which has very little species richness and a high rate of species loss in recent years, making this order highly vulnerable to extinction. This order is distributed endemically in the Neotropics. Conservation concerns are high due to the high levels of habitat fragmentation and loss in Neotropical landscapes and conservation areas need to be prioritized to ensure Pilosa species survival.

Goals and Methods

The authors formulate long-term priority conservation areas for sloths and anteaters that take into account various climate change scenarios. With occurrence records of anteaters and sloths, the authors use Zonation framework and software to model current and theoretical suitable habitat based on biotic stability, biodiversity, and local protection policy strictness.

Conclusions and Takeaways

Future climate change is likely to affect 12 Pilosa species in South America by shifting their habitats from tropical forests to savannas. The Amazon biome is of great importance for protection and will serve as 28% of predicted Pilosa distribution. The authors also note the Peruvian side of the eastern Andes and northern Brazil as high priority. The authors warn that conflict over land protection policy is a risk to this valuable habitat. In particular, indigenous territories house 45% of remaining wilderness in the Amazon but are under great threat from a lack of protection.