A recent study published in the journal  Environmental Research Letters has provided new insights into the development of climate protection strategies. By studying a global network of protected areas, researchers assessed the potential for changes in where plants and animals live due to climate change. Their findings suggest that strategic conservation plans that transcend international borders and protect threatened species are needed. “As the planet continues to warm, we expect a number of species to move from some protected areas to others as they shift their ranges in response to climate change,” said lead study author Sean Parks, a research ecologist at the USDA Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station. Dr. Parks and his colleagues found that some species currently found in protected areas may soon have to cross international borders to find more suitable climatic conditions. During these migrations, they may face both physical and non-physical barriers, from border barriers to inconsistent conservation policies across regions and countries. (Nicolas Guillot)