Deforestation and Climate Change Threaten 84% of North America's Lizards

Nearly one in five species could face population declines by the end of the century, highlighting the critical role of trees in their survival.

A new study published in Nature Climate Change reveals that deforestation and climate change could negatively impact 84% of North America's lizards by the end of the century.
Nearly one in five lizard species could face population declines due to the combined effects of deforestation and global warming.
Lizards, being cold-blooded, rely on tree trunks for shade and temperature regulation, making deforestation a significant threat to their survival.
Global warming could benefit lizards in colder regions by increasing their activity time, but deforestation negates these benefits by reducing shade.
Deforestation continues globally, with about 459 million hectares of tree cover lost from 2001 to 2022, exacerbating the threat to lizard populations.