Deforestation Trends in a Tropical Landscape and Implications for Endangered Large Mammals

Abstract

The remarkable large‐mammal fauna of the Indonesian island of Sumatra is one of the most endangered on Earth and is threatened by rampant deforestation. We used remote sensing and biological surveys to study the effects of deforestation on populations of endangered large mammals in a Sumatran landscape. We measured forest loss and created a predictive model of deforestation for Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park and an unprotected buffer area based on satellite images between 1985 and 1999. We used automatic cameras to determine the distribution and relative abundance of tigers ( Panthera tigris sumatrae ), elephants ( Elephas maximus ), rhinoceros ( Dicerorhinus sumatrensis ), and tapirs ( Tapir indicus ). Between 1985 and 1999, forest loss within the park averaged 2% per year. A total of 661 km 2 of forest disappeared inside the park, and 318 km 2 were lost in a 10‐km buffer, eliminating forest outside the park. Lowland forest disappeared faster than hill/montane forest ( by a factor of 6 ) and forests on gentle slopes disappeared faster than forests on steep slopes ( by a factor of 16 ). Most forest conversion resulted from agricultural development, leading to predictions that by 2010 70% of the park will be in agriculture and that by 2036 lowland forest habitat will be eliminated. Camera‐trap data indicated avoidance of forest boundaries by tigers, rhinoceroses ( up to 2 km ), and elephants ( up to 3 km ). Classification of forest into core and peripheral forest based on mammal distribution suggests that, by 2010, core forest area for tigers and rhinoceros will be fragmented and reduced to 20% of remaining forest. Core forest area for elephants will be reduced to 0.5% of remaining forest. Halting forest loss has proven one of the most difficult and complex problems faced by Indonesia's conservation agencies today and will require a mix of enforcement, wise land‐use strategies, increased education, capacity to manage, and new financing mechanisms.

Expansion of traditional land-use and deforestation: a case study of an adat forest in the Kandilo Subwatershed, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

“…6). This same pattern is common; farmers first clear flat areas, close to water sources or roads and then move to steeper slopes farther from roads (Avoided Deforestation Partners 2009;Kinnaird et al 2003;Lambin and Meyfroidt 2010;OchoaGaona 2001;Ochoa-Gaona and González-Espinosa 2000).…”

Impacts of Trade and Environment on Sustainable Development

“…They also tell that illegal timber logging and its associated international trade is a major problem for environmental, economic and social reasons. Illegal timber logging hampers important environmental services (Bala et al, 2007;Kinnaird et al, 2003) and it may be a less direct cause of deforestation than land conversion for agriculture raises over exploitation and poor forest management. In terms of economics, Collier et al (2002) estimates that illegal logging reduces government revenues about $US5 billion by a year.…”

Life after logging: reconciling wildlife conservation and production forestry in Indonesian Borneo

“…A study by Brook et al (2003) also linked mammal extinctions on the island of Singapore to the reduction of available habitat (see also Kinnaird et al 2003 for some discussion in relation to protected areas in Sumatra).…”

“…For example, Newmark (1991) indicated that forest corridors needed to be at least 200 m wide to allow the free movement of sensitive East African forest birds (see also Beier & Noss 1998). Thus, research highlights the importance of maintaining 'forest-like' or a matrix of 'forest steppingstone' habitats in the intervening landscape (Gascon et al 2000;Kinnaird et al 2003;Wiens 1989).Some species have minimum fragment size requirements if the population is to persist. (O'Brien et al 1998b).…”