Safeguarding global terrestrial vertebrate species from future sea-level rise.

Projected terrestrial vertebrate species exposed to sea-level rise will increase from 13,680 in 2050 to 15,324 by 2100, with reptiles and threatened species most affected.

• Why it matters: Sea-level rise poses a significant threat to terrestrial biodiversity, but its specific impacts on different species and regions remain poorly understood, hindering effective conservation strategies.
• What they did: The study integrated relative sea-level rise projections across five SSPs with habitat maps for 34,120 terrestrial vertebrate species, analyzing species exposure and inundation patterns over time.
• The result: Findings show that over 96% of SLR refugia are outside protected areas, highlighting the urgent need for early international efforts to safeguard non-inundated habitats for vulnerable species.