No substitute for untouched tropical forests
A rain forest in Indonesia.
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Thursday, 15 September 2011
South-East Asia has suffered the greatest losses of biodiversity of any tropical region in the world over the past 50 years, according to new research involving the University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ.
Researchers found that South-East Asia has the lowest remaining forest cover, highest rates of deforestation, and the highest human population densities among all of the major tropical regions.
The study, published today in the journal , highlights the importance of natural forests undisturbed by humans - known as 'primary forests' - in sustaining tropical wildlife.
"The study compares human impacts on biodiversity across the world's key tropical forested regions, and the conclusion is very clear: undisturbed primary forests are the only ones in which a full complement of species can thrive," says , Director of Ecological Modelling with the University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ's and one of the co-authors of the study.
"Much has been made in recent years of the potential conservation value of disturbed and degraded forests - what we call 'secondary forests'," says co-author , also of the University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ's Environment Institute.
"Until now, some have believed that revegetation and other conservation programs in these secondary forests will be enough to help preserve o