Impacts of Disturbance
El aumento de la deforestación en la cuenca del río Madre de Dios, Amazonía peruana, incrementaría la escorrentía superficial y la concentración de sedimentoBackgroundEn la Amazonía sudeste del Perú, se encuentra la cuenca del río Madre de Dios, uno de los focos de biodiversidad mundial. Sin embargo, la alta tasa de deforestación en la cuenca del río Madre de Dios genera una gran preocupación pues la cobertura vegetal es de vital importancia en la conservación de los ríos y suelos. En ausencia de la cobertura vegetal, la precipitación impacta directamente en el suelo y la cantidad de agua que no puede ser infiltrada discurre a través de arroyos definidos por la topografía de la cuenca. Open access copy available |
Influencia de la minería aurífera aluvial en la geodinámica fluvial del río Madre de Dios, Amazonía peruana, en el periodo 1984-2020Background:La dinamica de la rios es escencial en mantener la extraordinaria biodiversidad de los bosques tropicales. Sin embargo en la Amazonia de Madre de Dios (Peru) estos rios estan siendo fuertemente impactados por la mineria artesanal de oro, que hasta la fecha ha deforestado mas de 100 000 ha de bosque amazonico. La mineria aluvial es de especial preocupacion pues puede alterar la dinámica fluvial natural de los ríos al modificar el ancho, la profundidad, la sinuosidad y la estabilidad del canal. Open access copy available |
Deforestation-Induced Climate Change Reduces Carbon Storage in Remaining Tropical ForestsBackground:Deforestation of tropical forests alters the biophysical properties of the forest's surface, which contributes to regional warming and drying. These environmental changes, in turn, could impact non-degraded forests, reducing the rates of photosynthesis and increasing the release of carbon through autotrophic respiration, as well as the risk of a wildfire. Consequently, it is important to improve the accuracy of carbon and climate benefits of a land management action (e.g., avoided deforestation) to enable a more effective valuation of the carbon credits issued for a specific project. Open access copy available |
Aboveground carbon responses to experimental and natural hurricane impacts in a subtropical wet forest in Puerto RicoBackgroundCarbon sequestration is a major climate mitigating process. Tropical forests in particular sequester high amounts of carbon, however disturbance events such as storms can alter the ability of forests to sequester more carbon. Hurricanes create forest gaps and increase ground debris which both provide resources that may promote plant recruitment and growth. Open access copy available |
Fire and tree species diversity in tropical peat swamp forestsBackgroundIndonesia houses a large quantity of peat swamps, an ecosystem type that contains diverse plant species, and provides a habitat for endangered animals. Peat swamps are degraded due to logging and agriculture expansion, specifically with the use of fire. Peat swamps are highly susceptible to fires due to peat flammability. Peat swamps also house a large quantity of carbon, so restoration is a high priority. Available with subscription or purchase |
Disrupted montane forest recovery hinders biodiversity conservation in the tropical AndesBackgroundIn the U.N. Decade on Restoration, recovering degraded forests is a high priority. Andean montane forests are a biodiversity hotspot, storing large quantities of carbon, and providing many sources for human livelihood. Many parts of the Andean forests are recovering after agriculture abandonment, but it is not yet known how the dynamics of these recovery processes progress over time. Knowledge of forest regeneration trajectory is crucial for further restoration planning. Open access copy available |
Tropical forest restoration under future climate changeBackgroundClimate change mitigation requires a large amount of carbon sequestration from the atmosphere. One major avenue for accomplishing this is looking to tropical forests. These ecosystems are heavy carbon sinks and bring a multitude of benefits to people and the planet. However, these ecosystems are frequently degraded and forest restoration projects may be hindered in the future due to altered fire regimes, extreme heat or drought, and other characteristics of severe climate change. Open access copy available |
The role of land-use history in driving successional pathways and its implications for the restoration of tropical forestsBackgroundAcross tropical landscapes, large portions of forest have been removed or degraded. Regenerating or secondary forests are becoming increasingly valuable to maintaining and restoring the biodiversity and ecosystem services in the tropics. However, it is apparent that succession does not always happen at the same rate or in the same patterns/quality. It is thought that the history of the land and its usage heavily impact the regeneration patterns of a forest landscape. Open access copy available |
The association between rainforest disturbance and recovery, tree community composition, and community traits in the Yangambi area in the Democratic Republic of the CongoBackgroundForests in the Congo Basin are becoming increasingly threatened by human disturbances. These forests play a crucial role in global biodiversity, though understanding the full impact of forest degradation has been difficult due to the intact canopy cover. It is important to assess the extent that human activities have impacted these forests to make decisions on the forests’ conservation and management practices. Open access copy available |
The Effects of Prescribed Dry Season Burning on Woody Species Composition, Mole National Park, GhanaBackgroundSavannas are valuable ecological communities that support many species and are known to be heavily shaped by fire disturbances. Fire is a recognized tool for controlling excess fuel and improving habitat. However, it is thought that the timing and frequency of fire prescriptions may impact characteristics of savanna growth and composition. Open access copy available |
