From California to North Carolina, Climate Change Is Causing the Most Biodiversity Loss in These Areas
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/08000556/1072824-150x150.jpgAlligators in Tennessee, great white sharks in New England, vampire bats in Texas. As temperatures rise, wild species are forced to migrate to cooler areas, fragmenting habitats and causing drastic shifts in ecosystems throughout North America. But while in recent years wild animals have been increasingly spotted in unexpected locations throughout the U.S., the overwhelming result of climate change is biodiversity loss.
Whence the next pandemic? Cities Where the Next Pandemic Is Most Likely to Break Out
New border crisis? Climate Change Pushing Vampire Bats North Into Texas
Increasing extreme weather events are contributing to widespread animal population loss, while phenological changes in migration and reproduction cycles are reducing replacement rates for a number of species. In the last several years, the number of observable animal species has fallen by more than 10 in over two dozen counties. A closer look at the data reveals counties throughout the West and South where biodiversity is rapidly declining.
To determine the counties with the most biodiversity loss, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed raster data on species richness from the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Counties were ranked based on the change from 2021 to 2024 in the number of species potentially occurring within its boundaries. Species counts include amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles, and exclude marine-only species. Only species tracked by the IUCN Red List were considered in the analysis. Data was aggregated from the grid cell level to the county level using boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau.
25. San Bernardino County, CA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -10 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 334
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 324
- Most diverse class: Reptiles
- County seat: San Bernardino
24. San Diego County, CA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -10 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 361
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 351
- Most diverse class: Birds
- County seat: San Diego
23. Los Angeles County, CA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -10 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 358
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 348
- Most diverse class: Birds
- County seat: Los Angeles
22. Imperial County, CA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -11 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 331
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 320
- Most diverse class: Mammals
- County seat: El Centro
21. Marin County, CA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -11 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 356
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 345
- Most diverse class: Birds
- County seat: San Rafael
20. Sonoma County, CA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -11 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 366
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 355
- Most diverse class: Birds
- County seat: Santa Rosa
19. Jasper County, SC
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -12 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 374
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 362
- Most diverse class: Mammals
- County seat: Ridgeland
18. Graham County, AZ
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -12 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 393
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 381
- Most diverse class: Reptiles
- County seat: Safford
17. Terrell County, TX
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -13 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 339
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 326
- Most diverse class: Mammals
- County seat: Sanderson
16. Santa Cruz County, AZ
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -13 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 405
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 392
- Most diverse class: Reptiles
- County seat: Nogales
15. New Hanover County, NC
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -13 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 369
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 356
- Most diverse class: Birds
- County seat: Wilmington
14. Berkeley County, SC
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -13 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 373
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 360
- Most diverse class: Amphibians
- County seat: Moncks Corner
13. San Luis Obispo County, CA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -13 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 357
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 344
- Most diverse class: Birds
- County seat: San Luis Obispo
12. Monterey County, CA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -13 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 357
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 344
- Most diverse class: Birds
- County seat: Salinas
11. Orange County, CA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -14 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 363
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 349
- Most diverse class: Birds
- County seat: Santa Ana
10. McIntosh County, GA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -15 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 359
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 344
- Most diverse class: Mammals
- County seat: Darien
9. Santa Cruz County, CA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -15 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 356
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 341
- Most diverse class: Birds
- County seat: Santa Cruz
8. San Mateo County, CA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -15 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 356
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 341
- Most diverse class: Birds
- County seat: Redwood City
7. Hidalgo County, NM
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -16 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 398
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 382
- Most diverse class: Mammals
- County seat: Lordsburg
6. Alameda County, CA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -16 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 320
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 304
- Most diverse class: Birds
- County seat: Oakland
5. Solano County, CA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -17 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 368
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 351
- Most diverse class: Birds
- County seat: Fairfield
4. Pima County, AZ
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -18 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 403
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 385
- Most diverse class: Mammals
- County seat: Tucson
3. Contra Costa County, CA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -19 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 369
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 350
- Most diverse class: Birds
- County seat: Martinez
2. Cochise County, AZ
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -20 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 416
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 396
- Most diverse class: Mammals
- County seat: Bisbee
1. Santa Clara County, CA
- Biodiversity loss, 2021 to 2024: -22 species
- IUCN Red List species, 2024: 370
- IUCN Red List species, 2021: 348
- Most diverse class: Birds
- County seat: San Jose
Sponsor
Find a Vetted Financial Advisor
- Finding a fiduciary financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area in 5 minutes.
- Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Get on the path toward achieving your financial goals!