The rarest and least protected forests in biodiversity hotspots

Global dry forests: a prologue

“…Despite their importance, dry forests are among the most threatened and least studied of the world's forested ecosystems and, as a result, may be at greater risk than humid forests (Janzen 1988;Miles et al 2006; Portillo-Quintero and Sánchez-Azofeifa 2010; Aide et al 2012;Gillespie et al 2012). For example, the dry forests of some Pacific islands are thought to have been reduced to less than 10% of their original extent, with the remainder still threatened by human activity and the invasion of exotic species (Gillespie et al 2012).…”

“…For example, the dry forests of some Pacific islands are thought to have been reduced to less than 10% of their original extent, with the remainder still threatened by human activity and the invasion of exotic species (Gillespie et al 2012). It has also been suggested that the goods and services that dry forests provide are significantly different from those of humid forests, thus requiring different approaches to management and conservation (Wunder 2001;Makonda and Gillah 2007;Gumbo et al 2010).…”

“…Despite general agreement in the literature that dry forests are under threat (see Kowero 2003;Gillespie et al 2012), comprehensive data on the rates of deforestation and conversion of dry forests are difficult to find. Portillo-Quintero and Sánchez-Azofeifa (2010) showed for the Americas that twothirds of tropical dry forest in the region has already been converted, with the rate as high as 95% in some countries.…”

“…It appears that virtually nothing is known about the dry forests of the Pacific Islands, aside from one or two studies on their composition and conservation status and several archaeological studies on the history of the forest (see Blackmore and Vitousek 2000;Gillespie and Jaffré 2003;Pau et al 2009;Gillespie et al 2012). At the very least, the mapping and cataloguing of the biophysical characteristics of these forests should be a high priority.…”

Tropical dry forests: The state of global knowledge and recommendations for future research

“…However, some research on defining the extent of such forests is available (see FAO 2001;Miles et al 2006;FAO 2012 According to Miles et al (2006), less than one-third of the world's dry forest area lies within protected areas. Despite general agreement in the literature that dry forests are under threat (see Kowero 2003;Gillespie et al 2012), comprehensive data on the rates of deforestation and conversion of dry forests are difficult to find. Portillo-Quintero and Sánchez-Azofeifa (2010) showed for the Americas that twothirds of tropical dry forest in the region has already been converted, with the rate as high as 95% in some countries.…”