Available with subscription or purchase
The Prospects for Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) in Vietnam: A Look at Three Payment SchemesBackgroundAvailable with subscription or purchase |
Quantifying the Impacts of Defaunation on Natural Forest Regeneration in a Global Meta-AnalysisBackgroundIntact forests provide critical ecosystem services, such as carbon storage and climate regulation, which are heavily dependent on interactions between woody vegetation and animal species. However, defaunation is altering these interactions at a global scale. While previous studies have explored the effects of defaunation on individual ecosystems, a comprehensive global analysis quantifying its impact on natural forest regeneration has been lacking. This study conducts a meta-analysis to assess how vertebrate loss influences forest regeneration across multiple regions and ecosystems, identifying key taxonomic groups and ecological processes most affected by defaunation. Available with subscription or purchase |
Seed dispersal strategies and the threat of defaunation in a Congo forestBackgroundSeed dispersal is a crucial ecological process that shapes plant communities and maintains biodiversity in tropical forests. In the Congo Basin, most tree species rely on animals (zoochory) to disperse their seeds, with large vertebrates like forest elephants and bonobos playing a key role. However, hunting and poaching threaten these seed dispersers, which could have cascading effects on forest structure and plant regeneration. This study investigates the extent of animal-mediated seed dispersal in the LuiKotale forest, located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and assesses how hunting pressure on frugivores may impact tree community composition. Available with subscription or purchase |
Defaunation of Large-Bodied Frugivores Reduces Carbon Storage in a Tropical Forest of Southeast AsiaBackgroundTropical forests are vital for carbon storage, but recent studies suggest that defaunation—the loss of large-bodied seed dispersers due to hunting and habitat fragmentation—can significantly impact this function. While previous research has shown reductions in above-ground carbon storage due to defaunation in South America and Africa, its effects on Southeast Asian forests remain debated. Some scientists argue that the dominance of wind-dispersed Dipterocarpaceae trees in the region buffers against carbon losses from defaunation. This study examines the extent to which defaunation influences carbon storage in a tropical forest in Thailand, where large frugivores such as primates, hornbills, and terrestrial mammals still persist. Available with subscription or purchase |
Using Janzen–Connell to predict the consequences of defaunation and other disturbances of tropical forestsBackgroundThe Janzen–Connell (J–C) model describes how seed dispersal and mortality shape tropical forest diversity. According to the model, seeds that fall close to their parent trees suffer high mortality due to host-specific predators, pathogens, and herbivores. In contrast, seeds dispersed farther away have a better chance of survival. Defaunation, particularly the loss of large-bodied seed dispersers, disrupts this balance by reducing seed dispersal distances. This study applies the J–C model to predict how defaunation and other disturbances affect tree recruitment and forest composition. Available with subscription or purchase |
Cascading effects of contemporaneous defaunation on tropical forest communitiesBackgroundDefaunation, caused by hunting and habitat fragmentation, is a major threat to biodiversity in tropical forests. It disproportionately affects large-bodied vertebrates, which play key roles as seed dispersers, seed predators, and herbivores. The loss of these animals can have cascading effects on plant populations, altering species composition, seed dispersal, and plant recruitment. This study reviews empirical evidence from 42 studies to understand how defaunation influences plant-animal interactions, plant demography, and overall community diversity. Available with subscription or purchase |
Forest carbon offsets and carbon emissions trading: Problems of contractingBACKGROUND:Monitoring and measuring carbon fluxes in forestry are complex and costly, exacerbated by asymmetric information and inadequate institutions, leading to unstable values in carbon trading. Good governance is essential for effective contracting in the carbon market but often falls short, leading to misaligned incentives and principal-agent problems. These issues frequently delay successful contracting, potentially resulting in corruption and disputes over carbon offset claims. Available with subscription or purchase |
The contradiction of the sustainable development goals: Growth versus ecology on a finite planetBackgroundThe Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations in 2015, promote a holistic vision of development that recognizes the interconnectedness of poverty, underdevelopment, and environmental concerns. Comprising 17 goals and 169 specific targets, the SDGs reflect a shift in development theory, emphasizing that human flourishing depends on addressing ecological degradation. However, the framework reveals a fundamental contradiction. Goals 6, 12, 13, 14, and 15 advocate for environmental protection and “harmony with nature,” while Goal 8 emphasizes the pursuit of continued global economic growth. Available with subscription or purchase |
Foresters' beliefs about farmers: a priority for social science research in social forestryBackgroundAvailable with subscription or purchase |
Livelihoods, Forests, and Conservation in Developing Countries: An OverviewBACKGROUND:Poverty is a huge challenge, with 2.8 billion of the world’s 6 billion people living on less than $2 a day. The paper highlights the alarming extent of poverty in developing countries and addresses the rapid deforestation, which compromises ecological integrity and exacerbates social inequities. The authors focus on exploring whether poverty alleviation and forest conservation can be aligned as complementary rather than conflicting objectives. Available with subscription or purchase |
