Researchers have found that logging practices can cause significant bedrock incision, eroding geology at a rate of up to 100 times the natural rate. The study, conducted on the Teanaway River in Washington state, shows that human activity has transformed the riverbank, creating new terraces and altering the landscape.
The study identifies regions under high-intensity threat from commercial harvesting of species, highlighting urgent need for sustainable use and protection. High-risk areas contain 82% of impacted species, with only 16% covered by protected areas on land.
A landmark study found forest soils need several decades to recover from bushfires and logging. Soils recovered very slowly over many years from these events.
Researchers found that Douglas-fir density was high after 20 years in severely burned areas, unaffected by management practices. Forest managers should tailor post-fire management to specific objectives and landscape context to maximize effectiveness.
Researchers discovered that people tend to forget passwords less frequently when they are used more often, according to a Rutgers University-led study. The study's findings suggest that password systems could be designed to encourage users to log in regularly, improving password retention.
A new study found widespread logging permit fraud in the Brazilian Amazon, which is undercutting conservation efforts and threatening high-value timber species like ipe. The researchers discovered a deliberate overestimation bias of these species, indicating corruption or simple misidentification.
A recent study published in Ecosphere reveals that mixed-severity wildfires actually produce more benefits than costs to Spotted Owl populations. The research analyzed 21 scientific studies and suggests that management strategies prioritizing fuel-reduction logging are outdated.
Research by Michigan Technological University found that harvesting whole trees has no significant impact on plant diversity. In fact, removing only the logs led to increased diversity in understory plants. The study also revealed a negative effect of a logging technique on aspen regeneration.
A new study published in Biological Conservation found that freshwater fish biodiversity is harmed by selective logging in rainforests as much as by complete deforestation. The researchers discovered a significant drop in fish diversity across all types of logging, regardless of the amount or recentness of the logging.
Researchers found that logging in Solomon Islands' tropical forests can lead to unsustainable soil erosion and significant impacts on downstream water quality. The study highlights the need for tighter regulations and local buy-in for forest management to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Researchers found that economic profit is the main motivation behind salvage logging in protected areas, despite warnings about its harm to biodiversity and regeneration capacity. Salvage logging should be banned from protected areas unless necessary for safety reasons, according to ecologists.
A new study suggests that certified logging operations can protect jaguars and other large wildlife species. Camera trap surveys in Guatemala and Peru found high jaguar densities in managed concessions, with an average of 1.5 to 4.5 jaguars per 100 square kilometers.
A study published in Animal Behaviour examined the acoustic behavior of North Atlantic right whales, finding that their calls change as individuals age. Similar to human infants, younger whale calls are shorter and less structured, but develop into clearer sounds with better defined structure as they mature.
A 16-year study found that over 100,000 orangutans were lost on Borneo due to changes in land cover, with many disappearing from intact forest areas. Effective partnerships with industries and public education are key to the species' survival.
Researchers have found that post-fire logging operations are responsible for declines in spotted owl territory occupancy, contradicting previous reports of large forest fires. The study suggests that preserving natural processes and reducing human disturbance can help protect this imperiled species.
New research shows that decades-old logging restrictions have failed to reverse population declines of spotted owls in US national forests due to a 'tree deficit', requiring longer-term restoration efforts. The study found stable owl populations in nearby national parks with intact habitats.
A recent study by Lancaster University found that logging in tropical forests can have negative impacts on biodiversity, even when done sustainably. The research looked at the impact of logging on forest dung beetles and found that low levels of logging led to a decline in species diversity and rates of soil removal.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reports that two-thirds of monitored World Heritage sites face threats from illegal fishing, logging, and poaching. IUCN calls for strengthened international cooperation to protect these unique ecosystems and species at risk.
Research by the University of Exeter found that logging debris on beaches in Colombia is impacting breeding turtles' movement and survival. The study revealed that females with high amounts of debris were more likely to be wounded or have eggs at risk due to flooding.
The study found that salvage logging after a severe wildfire did not significantly affect the diversity and abundance of native plant species in the forest. However, some shrub communities were affected due to reproduction cycle timing and seed germination triggered by heat from fire. The research suggests that longer-term studies supp...
Conservation groups in Central and West Africa are marginalizing local communities, who rely on the forest for food, shelter, and resources. The landscape-based approach prioritizes logging and development over community needs, leaving indigenous populations behind.
Researchers mapped carbon recovery in Amazonian forests after logging activities, finding highest potential in the Guiana Shield and western regions. Surviving trees may be more reliable for storing carbon than newly recruited juveniles.
A group of conservation scientists and policy makers are calling for global action to stamp out illegal timber trade. The trade, worth US$30-100 billion annually, accounts for between 15-30% of the global timber market and contributes to forest degradation and loss of biodiversity.
A new large-scale analysis found that logged forests in Central Africa may contain nearly twice as much deadwood as unlogged forests, and up to 3.8 times more than previous estimates. This underestimation has broad implications for regional forestry practices and global carbon emissions.
Researchers found that logging roads and landing areas lead to dense soil with slower water infiltration, causing erosion and affecting forest regeneration. This study highlights the need for treatment of impacted areas to prevent long-term effects on forest health.
A study by the University of East Anglia found that tropical hardwoods do not grow back to commercial levels after selective logging, posing a risk to their survival. The research highlights the need for sustainable forestry practices to manage yields and maintain forest biodiversity.
A new web-based prototype of a speech-controlled nutrition-logging system has been developed to make meal logging easier. The system allows users to verbally describe the contents of a meal, and automatically retrieves pertinent nutritional data from an online database.
China's sweeping program to restore forests has seen significant gains in tree cover, with nearly 61,000 square miles of land recovering, while 14,400 square miles experienced loss. The recovery is encouraging, but researchers emphasize the need for further research on the broader impacts of forest degradation and recovery worldwide.
A new study shows that logging in tropical rainforests creates micro-environments that black rats love, facilitating their invasion into the habitat. This can lead to displacement of native small mammals and have negative impacts on the forest ecosystem.
New research reveals that sustainable forestry policies in the Congo Basin may inadvertently cause increased deforestation and timber production. The studies found that selective logging, often done under compliant policies, leads to indirect deforestation by spreading activities over larger areas. Human settlements also grow near lega...
A Florida Tech-led study refutes the theory that Amazonian rainforests were created through ancient managed landscapes. The research, published in the Journal of Biogeography, suggests that pre-European human activity had a limited impact on the ecosystem.
A recent study in Primorye, Russia, suggests that logging companies can be essential for endangered Blakiston's fish owls. In fact, lands leased to logging companies account for 43% of suitable habitat, while protected areas only cover 19%. This collaboration enables the protection of nearly half of all potential fish owl home ranges.
Researchers found that sustainably logged tropical Amazonian forests can recover their carbon stocks within a cutting cycle of 20 to 30 years. The study suggests that the time to recover initial carbon stocks depends almost exclusively on logging intensity, providing useful insights for forest managers and policy makers.
Ghana's Upper Guinea rain forests have seen a decline of over 50% in understory bird species due to increased illegal logging, which has more than doubled between 1995 and 2010
Tropical Storm Linfa made landfall in southeastern China on July 9, bringing gale-force winds and threatening flooding. The storm's movement over land weakened its thunderstorms, but it will continue to parallel the southern coastline of China before dissipating.
A NUS-led study found that protected areas in Indonesia are ineffective in slowing down deforestation, instead suggesting the implementation of road monitoring, logging control, and alternative livelihoods to support conservation. The research highlights the need for more effective measures to tackle deforestation in the country.
A new study found that post-fire logging can reduce woody fuels for up to four decades following wildfire in dry coniferous forests. Harvesting fire-killed trees also helps forest managers manage fuels, with logged stands having lower fuels than unlogged stands over time.
Researchers found that Reduced-Impact Logging (RIL) has little effect on bird, bat, and large mammal populations in Central Guyanese rainforests. RIL is a cost-effective option for timber companies to ensure long-term sustainability of biodiversity-rich tropical forests.
Researchers observe orangutans walking on newly constructed logging roads in East Kalimantan's Wehea Forest, suggesting a potential adaptive strategy for survival. The finding highlights the rapid loss of Borneo's forest habitats and underscores the need to protect remaining forests.
A study among the Makushi people in Guyana reveals that men are more likely to pursue long-term relationships when women are in short supply. The researchers found that when women are abundant, men tend to seek multiple short-term partners, but when they are scarce, men value and attempt to maintain a single partner.
A study published in Forest Ecology and Management found that salvage logging increases sediment in water runoff, causing erosion and damage to fish habitats. Leaving slash on the ground, breaking up equipment trails with water bars, and replanting vegetation are recommended best management practices for minimizing ecological effects.
A meta-analysis of studies on reduced-impact logging (RIL) and conventional logging found that RIL causes smaller shifts in species abundance and less harm to birds, arthropods, mammals, and bats. RIL certified timber can support the diverse benefits of tropical forests and promote sustainable forestry practices.
A new study led by Dartmouth researcher Jodi Brandt shows that China's conservation efforts have displaced ancient community-managed protections, accelerating old-growth logging. Total forest cover increased, but biodiversity value decreased as scrub and secondary forests dominated the landscape.
A meta-analysis of 50 studies reveals that selective logging halves mammal and amphibian species numbers at specific intensity levels. Logging companies are urged to respect biodiversity thresholds.
Forest cover in Borneo declined by up to 30% between 1973 and 2010, with logging and fire contributing to the loss. The study analyzed LANDSAT satellite images to understand long-term forest change patterns, aiming to aid conservation planning.
A new study finds that tropical countries with rising middle-class incomes are willing to pay more for conservation, but government actions lag behind. Public surveys in Malaysia showed people willing to pay $437 a year per hectare to protect forests from logging and poaching.
Researchers at Winrock International have developed a new method to estimate carbon emissions from forest degradation caused by selective logging in tropical regions. The approach measures logging-associated emissions from extracted timber, surrounding forest damage, and infrastructure.
Researchers have discovered that heavily logged forests in Borneo still support a significant number of species, challenging the notion that logging depletes ecosystems. The study suggests that some species can thrive even in highly degraded environments.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that more than 80% of tropical forests in Malaysian Borneo have been heavily impacted by logging. Satellite imaging revealed approximately 226,000 miles of roads constructed throughout the forests of this region.
Retaining moderate levels of logging debris helps increase growth rate of Douglas-fir seedlings by inhibiting competing herbaceous vegetation and preserving soil water. This leads to increased early growth in seedlings, with higher growth rates observed at 80% debris cover without herbicide treatments.
A study found that computerized surveillance in the home causes significant changes in behavior to control privacy intrusion. Participants adjusted their daily practices to maintain a tolerable level of surveillance, but unexpected events could disrupt these adaptations.
A new University of Florida study suggests that selective logging of tropical forests can be a viable conservation option, as long as the forest is given adequate time to recover. The research found that biodiversity and carbon retention take a hit from logging but can be reversed over time.
Researchers found that clear-cut logging significantly increases the risk of avalanches penetrating into forest cover. The study provides new methods and data to predict runout distances and assess risks to facilities below avalanche terrain. This knowledge is crucial for land-use planning and management of resources.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have devised a new type of network that allows users to authenticate without relying on unique identities. The novel network structure eliminates identity theft, loss of anonymity and misplaced trust by using an addressing system with user-selected pseudonyms.
Research found that clearing trees and shrubs within 40 meters of houses afforded the greatest protection against house loss during Black Saturday fires. However, intensive fuel reduction can be expensive and have environmental impacts, and is not a guarantee of safety.
A study by University of Leeds ecologists reveals that over 80% of ant species found in pristine forests were also present in logged areas. This finding has implications for forest conservation, suggesting that areas previously thought to have little value can still support diverse communities.
Researchers found that old logging practices led to unprecedented soil erosion in southern Oregon's Siskiyou Mountains, which remains a threat despite improved practices. The study analyzed charcoal, pollen, and sediment cores to understand the impacts of fires over the last 2,000 years.
A recent research trip across the western Amazon revealed surprising results, with protected areas and indigenous reserves showing promising signs of effectiveness. The study also highlights the need for sustainable growth that balances economic development with environmental protection.
Seventy percent of Madagascar's species live in the forests where critically endangered rosewood trees are found. The Malagasy government lacks effective enforcement, allowing for lucrative illegal logging and tree trade with China.
MSU environmental scholar Bob Walker leads research expedition along western Transamazon Highway to study the impact of tree loss on the Amazon. The team will document logging activity and interview workers in the logging industry and longtime residents about the effects of development.