STATE OF THE WORLDS FORESTS 2003 future economic use; fulfilling an aesthetic Because so many of the birds of Indonesia are function; and providing the nations share of restricted to single islands, logging concessions global benefits. If these sometimes conflicting need to be examined at an individual island level objectives are to be achieved at a time of rising to ensure that endemic forms are not threatened xpectations and shrinking government budgets, (Marsden, 1998) new approaches are required. The development of For some species of forest bird, fragmentation appropriate policies for managing forests in the reduces nesting success, and hence the number of twen ty-first try warrants consideration of spring that they can produce some of the critical issues facing the conservation temperate forests, fragmentation exposes some species to greater rat mammals and nest parasitism(in which birds lay CRITICAL ISSUES IN CONSERVING eggs in the nests of other species, which then raise FOREST BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY these offspring at the expense of their own) Although deforestation is widely recognized as a species in the most fragmented landscapes that major conservation issue, the related issue of their populations depend on immigration of other habitat fragmentation receives insufficient populations from areas with more extensive forest attention. as human pressure increases in both cover(robinson et al., 1995; Askins, 1995) temperate and tropical forests, areas that were Conservation strategies therefore need to ensure once continuously forested have become more the preservation and restoration of large fragmented In the Brazilian Amazon alone, the continuous forest habitats in each region. area of forest that is now fr ed (with forests Research on the impact of natural forest less than 10 000 ha iner)or prone to edge fragmentation on the distribution of mammals in effects(less than 1 km from clearings)is more Lope reserve in central Gabon found that total than 150 percent greater than the area that has mammal biomass was highest in the forest actually been deforested. Recent research fragments, at 6 010 kg per squakilometre Of indicates that small fragments have very different eight species of primate, four were more common, forest, containing more light-loving species, more much less common in the fragmented habitat 3 ecosystem characteristics from larger areas of two occurred with similar densities, and two were trees with wind-or water-dispersed seeds or Most mammal species moved between fruits, and relatively few understorey species. The continuous forest and forest fragments, but a few smaller fragments also have a greater density of resided permanently in some fragments. The tree falls, a more irregular canopy, more weedy diversity and high biomass of large mammals species and unusually abundant vines, lianas and found within the forest fragments suggests that bamboos. Thus, they preserve only a highly fragmentation per se will not be catastrophic for biased subset of the original flora and fauna, most of these species. However, since logging which is adapted to these conditions(Laurance, typically results in greatly increased hunting 999: Laurance et al. 2000) sometimes only to feed the logging crews, but A study comparing the density of lowland more often to sell meat and other animal products birds in unlogged and recently logged forests in on lucrative international markets-the remaining Seram, Indonesia found that few bird species structurally intact forest may be emptied of were excluded from logged forest and several primates and other large mammals and birds were common in both habitats. Species that were (Tutin, White and MacKanga-Missandzou, 1997) rare in unlogged forests were no more likely to urveys conducted over 28 years in Kibale decline after logging than were the common ones. National Park, Uganda quantified the long-term However, while birds with restricted global effects of both low-and high-intensity selective ranges fared no worse than widespread species, logging on the density of five common primates several endemic forms were seriously affected The results suggest that, in this region at least,2003 FORESTS S’WORLD THE OF STATE 88 aesthetic an fulfilling; use economic future of share s’nation the providing and; function conflicting sometimes these If. benefits global rising of time a at achieved be to are objectives ,budgets government shrinking and expectations of development The. required are approaches new the in forests managing for policies appropriate of consideration warrants century first-twenty conservation the facing issues critical the of some .diversity biological forest of CONSERVING IN ISSUES CRITICAL DIVERSITY BIOLOGICAL FOREST Fragmentation a as recognized widely is deforestation Although of issue related the, issue conservation major insufficient receives fragmentation habitat both in increases pressure human As. attention were that areas, forests tropical and temperate more become have forested continuously once the, alone Amazon Brazilian the In. fragmented forests with (fragmented now is that forest of area edge to prone or) ea ar in ha 000 10 than less more is) clearings from km 1 than less (effects has that area the than greater percent 150 than research Recent. deforested been actually different very have fragments small that indicates of areas larger from characteristics ecosystem more, species loving-light more containing, forest or seeds dispersed-water or- wind with trees The. species understorey few relatively and, fruits of density greater a have also fragments smaller weedy more, canopy irregular more a, falls tree and lianas, vines abundant unusually and species highly a only preserve they, Thus. bamboos ,fauna and flora original the of subset biased ,Laurance (conditions these to adapted is which .(2000., al et Laurance; 1999 lowland of density the comparing study A in forests logged recently and unlogged in birds species bird few that found Indonesia, Seram several and forest logged from excluded were were that Species. habitats both in common were to likely more no were forests unlogged in rare .ones common the were than logging after decline global restricted with birds while, However ,species widespread than worse no fared ranges .affected seriously were forms endemic several are Indonesia of birds the of many so Because concessions logging, islands single to restricted level island individual an at examined be to need threatened not are forms endemic that ensure to .(1998, Marsden( fragmentation, bird forest of species some For of number the hence and, success nesting reduces some In. produce can they that offspring some exposes fragmentation, forests temperate by predation nest of rates greater to species lay birds which in (parasitism nest and mammals raise then which, species other of nests the in eggs .(own their of expense the at offspring these some for low so sometimes are rates Reproduction that landscapes fragmented most the in species other of immigration on depend populations their forest extensive more with areas from populations .(1995, Askins; 1995., al et Robinson (cover ensure to need therefore strategies Conservation ,large of restoration and preservation the .region each in habitats forest continuous forest natural of impact the on Research in mammals of distribution the on fragmentation total that found Gabon central in Reserve Lope forest the in highest was biomass mammal Of. kilometre e squar per kg 010 6 at, fragments ,common more were four, primate of species eight were two and, densities similar with occurred two .habitat fragmented the in common less much between moved species mammal Most few a but, fragments forest and forest continuous The. fragments some in permanently resided mammals large of biomass high and diversity that suggests fragments forest the within found for catastrophic be not will se per fragmentation logging since, However. species these of most – hunting increased greatly in results typically but, crews logging the feed to only sometimes products animal other and meat sell to often more remaining the – markets international lucrative on of emptied be may forest intact structurally birds and mammals large other and primates .(1997, Missandzou-MacKanga and White, Tutin( Kibale in years 28 over conducted Surveys term-long the quantified Uganda, Park National selective intensity-high and- low both of effects .primates common five of density the on logging ,least at region this in, that suggest results The