Global climate change has always been a challenge to species survival and, of course, evolution and extinction are driven in large measure by adaptive strategies that are triggered by habitat pressure and the loss or gain of opportunities. Today, those of us concerned with nature conservation are confronted by the onset of massive and rather rapid environmental changes, accelerated if not caused by human activity, past and current. I do not think there has been any time in the past where, in the human context, climate change has had such enormous and recognized implications for a world that we arrogantly consider ours.

Those of us who concern ourselves with the broad task of species survival have relatively few tools at our disposal in the face of such a gigantic challenge. There are, however, some things that are being done and perhaps more critically, could be done. Sharing knowledge and collaborating on an interdisciplinary and international basis is fundamental. Science may not have all the answers but it certainly offers a framework for strategic planning.

In some cases, perhaps little can be done to stop habitat loss but I sincerely believe that the concept of conservation remains valid and much that is going wrong can, in fact, be put right. Forests are particularly important and, along with wetlands, are probably the most important for the consideration of policy makers and the population at large.