Forestry Investment News
Forest fragmentation 'leads to ecological Armageddon'
30/09/2013
Animals living in fragments of the rainforest are at greater risk of extinction that previously thought, according to a major report by academics.
The team from the University of Singapore specifically looked at mammals living in fragments of forest left by the creation of a hydroelectric reservoir in the Thai rainforest, but their study is designed to inform conservationists working in similar areas in the Amazon rainforest and elsewhere.
They found that where trees were indiscriminately felled, leaving islands or pockets of forest, small native species almost completely disappeared within a 25-year timeframe. They had hoped that if animals survived for longer, there would be more time to restore trees around the fragments or create ‘corridors’ for the animals to move into areas of thicker forest.
Antony Lynam of the Wildlife Conservation Society, said: "It's vital that we understand what happens to species in forest fragments. The fate of much of the world's biodiversity is going to depend on it.”
The research, published in the journal Science, will be key to efforts to ensure biodiversity continues in areas where small blocks of forest have been left because of developments.
Study leader, Luke Gibson, described the effects of fragmentation as “like ecological Armageddon”. He said the team was surprised by the “catastrophic” effects on the local wildlife.
The study brings together 20 years of research into the effects of fragmentation. Although scientists were aware that the practice was bad for native species, they did not know how long the mammals could survive in the blocks of forest cut off from the main rainforest.
Dr Gibson said that the results should serve as a warning that it is essential to preserve larger, intact areas of rainforest to ensure their biodiversity survives. Although conservationists are still able to intervene in the area studied, they do not have sufficient time left to ensure the effected species do not become extinct.
The team from the University of Singapore specifically looked at mammals living in fragments of forest left by the creation of a hydroelectric reservoir in the Thai rainforest, but their study is designed to inform conservationists working in similar areas in the Amazon rainforest and elsewhere.
They found that where trees were indiscriminately felled, leaving islands or pockets of forest, small native species almost completely disappeared within a 25-year timeframe. They had hoped that if animals survived for longer, there would be more time to restore trees around the fragments or create ‘corridors’ for the animals to move into areas of thicker forest.
Antony Lynam of the Wildlife Conservation Society, said: "It's vital that we understand what happens to species in forest fragments. The fate of much of the world's biodiversity is going to depend on it.”
The research, published in the journal Science, will be key to efforts to ensure biodiversity continues in areas where small blocks of forest have been left because of developments.
Study leader, Luke Gibson, described the effects of fragmentation as “like ecological Armageddon”. He said the team was surprised by the “catastrophic” effects on the local wildlife.
The study brings together 20 years of research into the effects of fragmentation. Although scientists were aware that the practice was bad for native species, they did not know how long the mammals could survive in the blocks of forest cut off from the main rainforest.
Dr Gibson said that the results should serve as a warning that it is essential to preserve larger, intact areas of rainforest to ensure their biodiversity survives. Although conservationists are still able to intervene in the area studied, they do not have sufficient time left to ensure the effected species do not become extinct.
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