Scientists say restoring large animals may not meet urgent climate goals
Researchers at Northern Arizona University published a study in Current Biology examining whether bringing back megafauna like elephants and whales can help mitigate the climate crisis by midcentury.
Variable impacts across ecosystems
The research team synthesized decades of data on terrestrial and marine species to understand their role in the carbon cycle. They found that while large animals influence how carbon is stored, their specific impacts vary significantly between different systems. Elephants toppling trees and whales recycling nutrients are just two of many complex pathways identified by the experts.
Slow timelines for restoration
The study concludes that the time required to restore these populations generally operates too slowly to meet midcentury targets set by the Paris Agreement. Carbon gains depend heavily on the specific ecosystem and cannot be relied upon as a quick fix for the climate emergency. Consequently, the net effect of restoring megafauna remains far from straightforward despite their essential roles in nature.
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