Index of biodiversity potential in Central America from 0.801 to 1.000

from 0.601 to 0.800 2005

from 0.201 to 0.400 from 0.401 to 0.600

2100 Scenario B2

from 0.000 to 0.200 0

300 km

2100 Base Scenario (without Climate Change)

2100 Escenario A2

Source: ECLAC/CCAD/DFID, La economía del cambio climático en Centroamérica. Síntesis, under preparation. Figure 2.6

in climate affect different species of flora and fauna differently, producing, in some cases, a disruption in food chains and/or in reproductive patterns. It is therefore necessary to reduce or control GHG emissions to avoid causing temperature increases that threaten the extinction of many of the species that inhabit the region. In Central America, biodiversity is one of the sectors most severely threatened by climate change (IPCC, 2007b). Estimates of

20 the potential biodiversity index2 for the region

for the year 2005, using the baseline scenario (without climate change) and emissions scenarios B2 and A2, show the magnitude of the loss of biodiversity that would occur towards the end of the century (ECLAC/CCAD/ DFID, 2010) (figure 2.6).

2 The potential biodiversity index was constructed on the basis of information on climatic and territorial variables. The index takes account of latitude, orography, temperatu- re, humidity and the availability of water.