Forest-degradation thresholds for biodiversity

[...]the scale of sampling is unparalleled in terms of understanding the effects of forest degradation on biodiversity - 127 surveys across 11 years, with logging intensity varying from 0% to 99% of timber extracted. Bringing biodiversity and ecosystem function back to such forests will probably req...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 2024-07, Vol.631 (8022), p.741-742
Main Author: Srinivasan, Umesh
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodegradation
Biodiversity
Biomass
Climate change
Conservation
Conservation biology
Degradation
Ecological function
Ecosystem biology
Forest degradation
Forests
Indigenous species
Introduced species
Invasive plants
Invasive species
Land degradation
Logging
Timber
Trends
Wildlife conservation
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Summary:[...]the scale of sampling is unparalleled in terms of understanding the effects of forest degradation on biodiversity - 127 surveys across 11 years, with logging intensity varying from 0% to 99% of timber extracted. Bringing biodiversity and ecosystem function back to such forests will probably require targeted and assisted restoration measures, such as planting native trees and removing invasive species; in other words, reactive conservation strategies. Because the rate of reduction in biodiversity is greatest at 70% of timber biomass loss, even small attempts to reverse degradation should lead to valuable biodiversity gains. [...]biodiversity or ecological value is one of a variety of potentially conflicting considerations for conservation, including economics, cultural considerations, politics and social justice.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/d41586-024-02155-5