Articles tagged with Logging
Researchers at Purdue University found that the recovery of understory plants from logging depends on a forest's history and climate. The study, published in Forest Ecology and Management, suggests that forests with similar climate conditions can recover differently from logging due to their past disturbances.
Rutgers computer scientists are developing a new approach to strengthen online security by asking users activity-based personal questions, making it harder for intruders to guess answers. Early studies suggest these questions related to recent activities are more robust than traditional security questions.
Reduced carbon emissions from tropical deforestation and degradation can be achieved through improved forest management techniques. Studies show that better logging practices can minimize ecological impact by up to 50% and reduce carbon losses by approximately 30%.
New estimates from Great Ape Trust reveal declining orangutan populations, with 75% living outside national parks. Conservation efforts must focus on island-specific action to address ecological threats.
Sea turtles are blocked by lost logs along Gabon's beaches, impeding nesting attempts and killing some female turtles. Logging practices pose a significant threat to critically endangered leatherback turtles.
A regional study of Peru's Amazon found that land-use policies have kept large-scale rain forest damage in check, but recent disturbances increased near roads, with forests protected by the government being more secure than those without conservation designations.
A study found that mature forest produces almost 10 times as much sugar per hectare than recently logged forest, but overall honey yields are still high due to extensive flowering. Nectar production in young trees regrowing after logging is not significantly affected, contradicting beekeepers' concerns.
The research provides the first synoptic view of industrial logging in Central Africa, enabling conservation agencies and governments to better gauge its impact on forests and their inhabitants. The expansion of logging poses a significant threat to biodiversity and climatic change.
A new study published in Forest Ecology and Management found that logging after a wildfire can lead to high fuel accumulation, regardless of whether the site is logged or unlogged. The research showed that logging residue contributed to four times more fine fuels on the ground, while logging caused fewer snags and large woody debris.
A team of scientists led by Greg Asner discovered a strong link between selective logging and clear-cutting in the Brazilian Amazon. They found that areas within 15 miles of major roads are more likely to be cleared, with 32% of logged areas cleared within four years.
Two groups of researchers from Oregon State University and the USDA Forest Service exchange perspectives on post-wildfire salvage logging, forest regeneration, and fire risk. The OSU team questioned the methodology and conclusions of a previous study, while the response emphasizes the strength of the original design and findings.
The ITTO report reveals that sustainably managed tropical forests have expanded from 2.4 million acres in 1988 to at least 87 million acres in 2005. However, the majority of forest land being managed sustainably comprises less than 5% of total surveyed areas.
After a high-severity fire, natural conifer regeneration can occur, with seedlings per acre reaching up to 300, but logging reduces this by 71%. Logging can also produce fine fuels that increase fire risk. The study suggests leaving dead trees standing may reduce re-burn risks.
A recent study using high-resolution satellite data found that selective logging in the Brazilian Amazon has been underestimated by half, with an annual extent of around 4,685 to 7,973 square miles. This has significant ecological implications for the region and beyond, including increased carbon emissions and biodiversity loss.
A study by researchers at the University of Illinois found that intense selective logging changed the ecological balance for three primate species, leading to increased parasitic infections in red-tailed guenons. The monkeys experienced behavioral changes and reduced protein and vital mineral intake due to decreased food availability.
ParksWatch's investigation reveals widespread, unregulated mahogany logging within the remote Alto Purús National Park in the Peruvian Amazon. The report exposes the illicit trade of this valuable timber species, which threatens its survival and ecosystem health.
A study by Dr Helen Newing found that government development policies are the main threat to forest conservation projects, rather than local communities. Community-led conservation approaches have been successful in protecting biodiversity, but lack of government support and bureaucratic hurdles hinder their effectiveness.
A team of researchers found a unique population of chimpanzees in the Goualougo Triangle that have had minimal or no contact with humans. The primates displayed curious behavior when encountered, but showed no signs of fear or aggression, suggesting they had not formed negative associations with human presence.
New research reveals that Mexico's protected reserves for monarch butterflies are being destroyed due to increased timber harvesting, threatening the species' survival. Despite government protection decrees, logging has continued and even increased in some areas, with degradation tripling since 1986.
Logging in tropical forests has sparked a 'deadly second harvest' of wildlife, including gorillas and elephants, with increased access providing markets for bushmeat. The Wildlife Conservation Society estimates that annual bushmeat harvest exceeds one million metric tons.
A study by Duke University researchers found that selectively logged Indonesian rainforests have comparable levels of tree species diversity to unlogged forests eight years later. The results suggest that these forests are more resilient than previously thought and may hold conservation potential.
A comprehensive 23-year study of the Kibale rain forest in Uganda reveals that heavy logging severely reduces species diversity and hinders forest recovery. Sustainable logging is only viable if tree falls are spaced far apart, limited to large trees, and harvested with minimal machinery.
High-volume logging in Central Africa threatens unique forests and wildlife like gorillas and elephants, WCS warns. The U.S. needs to increase funding and presence to protect the region's forests, according to Wildlife Conservation Society expert Michael Fay.
Seedlings of American mahogany trees can only successfully establish themselves on open land, not in the shade of other trees. Logging practices are creating 'mahogany deserts' by replacing mature trees with seedlings, posing a threat to the species' long lifespan of up to 600 years.