Impacts of Disturbance
Perceptions of local communities on mangrove forests, their services and management: implications for Eco-DRR and blue carbon management for Eastern Samar, PhilippinesBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Between a rock and a hard place: The burdens of uncontrolled fire for smallholders across the tropicsBackgroundThe growing prevalence of uncontrolled tropical landscape fires significantly threatens tropical forests and causes substantial social and economic burdens. These burdens continue to be largely overlooked in favor of aggregate-scale losses like climate change and biodiversity, despite the severe local impacts on smallholder farming communities across the forested tropics. Furthermore, people often unfairly portray smallholders as the primary culprits of fire contagion due to their customary fire-based agricultural practices. This narrative is rooted in colonial-era condemnations. Open access copy available |
Community perceptions of long-term mangrove cover changes and its drivers from a typhoon-prone province in the PhilippinesBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Defaunation affects carbon storage in tropical forestsBackgroundTropical forests play a critical role in global carbon storage, holding approximately 40% of the Earth's terrestrial carbon. While deforestation, logging, and climate change are well-documented threats to these forests, the impact of defaunation (the loss of large frugivorous animals due to hunting and habitat loss) has been largely overlooked. Many large-seeded hardwood trees rely on large vertebrates for seed dispersal, and their decline could significantly affect forest composition and carbon storage. Open access copy available |
How much deforestation in sub-Saharan Africa has been caused by mining?BACKGROUND:Sub-Saharan Africa has become a major mining hub due to its vast mineral resources, which has led to significant economic growth and investment in the region since the early 2000s. However, the expansion of mining activities, especially post-2000, has raised concerns about their environmental impact, particularly in terms of deforestation and habitat disruption. The paper aims to assess the extent of deforestation caused by mining activities in Sub-Saharan Africa, employing geospatial and statistical analysis to compare areas with and without mining operations. Open access copy available |
Expanding forest carbon sinks to mitigate climate change in AfricaBACKGROUND:Forests play a crucial role in climate change mitigation by acting as carbon sinks that sequester atmospheric CO2. African forests, covering 22% of the continent, provide substantial benefits but are under threat from deforestation and degradation. A comprehensive strategy that integrates social, economic, and environmental aspects is essential to preserve their ability to capture carbon effectively. The authors seek to examine the relationship between forest loss and increased CO2 emissions in Africa. Open access copy available |
Uso del efecto de borde de la vegetación para la restauración ecológica del bosque tropicalBackgroundEl artículo aborda la fragmentación de hábitats causada por la deforestación, lo que genera cambios en los procesos ecológicos, específicamente el efecto de borde. Este efecto se caracteriza por la generación de microclimas variables y condiciones dinámicas del suelo en la interfase entre el bosque nativo y la vegetación adyacente inducida. A nivel global, los bosques tropicales han sufrido una deforestación considerable, impactando negativamente la biodiversidad y los ciclos ecológicos. Available with subscription or purchase |
Patterns and drivers of disturbance in tropical forest reserves of southern GhanaBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Editorial: Mangroves in the Anthropocene: From local change to global challengeBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Exotic Plant Species as Problems and Solutions in Ecological Restoration: A SynthesisBackground:Available with subscription or purchase |