Depletion of tropical moist forests: A comparative review of rates and causes in the three main regions

Abstract

Information on depletion of tropical moist forests throughout the world is reviewed, including its causes, course and consequences in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia. Primary, or undisturbed, forest under goes varying degrees of perturbation depending on ex ploitation practices. Timber exploitation has been par ticularly important in Southeast Asia. Slash-and-burn agriculture often follows due to improved access. Shifting cultivation is especially important in Africa, where high population pressure makes the access roads opened for logging an even stronger catalyst to entran ce of slash-and-burn farmers. Cattle raising is a major cause in Latin America, often influenced by foreign market pressures and government policies.

Tropical Hardwood from the Brazilian Amazon: A Study of the Timber Industry in Western Para

“…These studies indicate that the ecological effects of uncontrolled logging as such, aside from its indirect effects on subsequent settlement, can be divided into several aspects: 1. (Tinal & Palenewen, 1978) and increase the tree's susceptibility to disease (Myers, 1982). The aforementioned chaineffect and bark damage together may destroy one third to more than half 7.…”