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Increasing concern surrounding the loss of natural forests and the
decline in biodiversity has lead to a rise in research and policy
initiatives in recent years. However, interest has focused
primarily on lowland tropical rainforests. Tropical montane and
temperate rainforests, which face similar pressures from human
activities and play major roles in the livelihood of rural
communities, are often ignored.
Biodiversity Loss and Conservation in Fragmented Forest Landscapes
is the product of over ten years of intensive field research into
the changing montane and temperate rainforests of Mexico and South
America. By concentrating on these largely overlooked environments,
the studies reported allow for comparative analysis across areas
and help identify how human disturbance has impacted the
biodiversity of all forest types. Chapters incorporate features of
landscape ecology, floristic biodiversity, conservation and policy
and vary from in-depth investigations of a single study area to
integrated examinations across regions.
Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) is one of the best-known and most
valuable tropical timbers currently traded internationally. Concern
has increased over the exploitation of mahogany, particularly as
most timber is currently derived from natural forests which are not
managed sustainably. Such concerns have resulted in an increased
research effort focusing on the ecology of the species in natural
forest. The potential of mahogany plantations as an alternative
source of timber has received relatively little attention. However,
evidence suggests mahogany may be a viable plantation species in
many countries. The successful development of such plantations
could make a major contribution towards meeting future demands for
mahogany timber, and thereby help to reduce pressures on natural
forest. The main aim of this book is to produce a comprehensive
account of mahogany silviculture, with a particular emphasis on
plantations, by bringing together the findings of foresters and
researchers from mahogany-growing countries around the world. There
is a logical progression through the stages of seed collection,
plantation establishment, maintenance, prediction of growth and
yield, protection and management of both natural stands and
plantations under suitable silvicultural systems. This book is an
indispensable guide and reference for those involved in growing and
managing mahogany and will also be valuable to ecologists and land
managers as well as students of forestry.
Forest conservation has become one of the most important
environmental issues currently facing humanity, as a result of
widespread deforestation and forest degradation. Pressures on
remaining natural forests continue to intensify, leading to high
rates of biodiversity loss. Understanding how human activities
influence ecological processes within forests is essential for
developing effective conservation action.
This book describes research methods and techniques relevant to
understanding forest ecology, with a particular focus on those that
are relevant to practical conservation and sustainable forest
management. This information is currently disparate and difficult
to locate and, as with other books in this series, the intention is
to provide a comprehensive synthesis for use by graduate students,
researchers and practising conservationists. Methods are presented
for assessing forest extent and condition, structure and
composition, and forest dynamics at a variety of scales. Techniques
for assessing genetic variation and reproductive ecology, and for
evaluating the habitat value of forests are also described.
Particular emphasis is given to state-of-the-art techniques such as
remote sensing, GIS, computer modelling and molecular markers.
However, traditional methods of forest mensuration and ecological
survey are also presented. The methods and techniques described are
generally applicable to all forest types, including both temperate
and tropical forest ecosystems.
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