THE world will not be able to tackle and cope with climate change successfully if we do not take steps to protect wildlife, Government scientist Bob Watson is warning. Speaking at a conference in London today on climate change and conservation, Professor Watson will also warn that much of the natural world will find it difficult to adapt to rising temperatures making it even more important to protect it. Professor Watson, chief scientific adviser for the Environment Department, is expected to tell the two-day conference: Our natural environment and climate change are inextricably linked. We cannot expect to successfully prevent further climate change or properly adapt to increasing temperatures and changing precipitation patterns without addressing the loss of ecosystems and biodiversity. Loss of biodiversity, which includes wildlife and habitats, and climate change, need to be seen together and treated with equal importance, he will tell the conference organised by Natural England and the British Ecological Society. They affect the fundamentals of our way of life our ability to find food and clean water, our health and the economy. Protecting our wildlife and our ecosystems can help us to lessen the future impacts of climate change, and to adapt to the warming we know will happen. He also says protecting crops and livestock could prevent species which are naturally resilient to the effects of climate change, such as hotter summers and more likelihood of flooding, from dying out when they are needed most. and he will warn that for every 1C rise in global temperatures, a further 10% of species will face a high risk of becoming extinct.