Megadiverse hotspots under threat from logging
Areas currently facing the highest deforestation rates on our planet, have been identified as having been particularly important in the evolutionary history of the 鈥榤egadiverse鈥� biodiversity of Southeast Asia.
In a study published in the journal Systematic Biology (), Dr Mark de Bruyn of 麻豆传媒高清版, and several international collaborators, have brought together a large amount of geological, climatic and biological data to identify geographic areas that have been particularly important in the evolutionary history of the exceptionally diverse fauna and flora of Southeast Asia. Borneo, in particular, was highlighted in this study.
The deforestation that is occurring in lowland rainforest areas of Borneo, in particular, largely due to the expansion of oil palm plantations, places the biodiversity there under extreme threat of extinction.
de Bruyn and colleagues concluded that: 鈥淎ccelerated efforts to conserve Borneo's flora and fauna in particular, currently housing the highest levels of Southeast Asian plant and mammal species richness, are critically required.鈥�
鈥淗igh priority conservation areas in Borneo envisaged under the current 鈥楬eart of Borneo鈥� agreement between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei fail to adequately protect extensive areas of lowland rainforest, which harbour the highest levels of diversity. Losing further large areas of forested land to development in this region will result in the irreplaceable loss of the primary refuge area for the entire Sunda Shelf region.鈥�
Publication date: 7 August 2014