LibGuides: Biodiversity: Forest Biodiversity

Definition

Forest biological diversity is a broad term that refers to all the life forms found within forested areas and the ecological roles they perform. As such, forest biological diversity encompasses not just trees but the multitude of plants, animals and micro-organisms that inhabit forest areas and their associated genetic diversity.

Note: In South Africa the Forest Biome includes subtropical thickets such as the Albany Thicket Biome which includes a vast area of dwarf or stunted “forest”. Unfortunately more than half of the latter has been severely degraded by overstocking and other sustainable land uses.

Articles

Articles:The fate of much of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity is linked to the management of human-modified forest landscapes in the humid tropics. This link opens in a new window
This Special Issue of the journal "Biological Conservation" presents the first pan-tropical synthesis of research on the prospects for biodiversity in such systems, with eight individual regional summaries covering Mesoamerica, Amazonia, Atlantic forest of South America, West Africa, Madagascar, Western Ghats, Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Beyond the forest edge: Ecology, diversity and conservation of the grassy biomes This link opens in a new window
Highlights biodiversity value of grassy biomes and, in contrast to tropical forests, illustrates the importance of fire in maintaining these systems.Discusses the major threats to, and consequences for, biodiversity in these regions including land clearance and elevated CO2-driven forest expansion. Focusess on the difficulties of grassland restoration. A new approach to understanding and conserving grassy ecosystems, free from cultural prejudices of the past, is long overdue
Biodiversity in a forest-agriculture mosaic – The changing face of West African rainforests This link opens in a new window
... from abstract: Biodiversity conservation in the region is becoming increasingly embedded within a more multi-functional view of agriculture-forest mosaics that attempts to recognise and value the range of services provided by tree cover and other land-uses. This relatively new perspective has the potential, at least in principle, to re-shape the drivers of land-use change because tree cover can generate additional revenue through carbon trading or certification schemes.
Biofuels and biodiversity in South Africa : review article This link opens in a new window
The Biofuels Industrial Strategy of the Republic of South Africa of 2007 outlines key incentives for reaching this target and promoting the development of a sustainable biofuels industry. Discusses issues relating to this strategy as well as key drivers in biofuel processing with reference to potential impacts on South Africa's rich biological heritage.Identiies key areas where challenges exist, e.g. SA has a long history of planting non-native plant species notably for commercial forestry.
Conserving Africa’s rain forests: problems in protected areas and possible solutions This link opens in a new window
Problems and correlates of success in the conservation of Africa’s rain forests were evaluated for 16 protected areas in 11 countries, representing approximately half of all protected areas in this biome. Data were obtained from questionnaires, published and unpublished accounts, and direct observations. Despite numerous problems, all protected areas conserved indigenous rain forest biodiversity more effectively than did alternative land uses.
Establishing the platform for a carbon sequestration market in South Africa: The Working for Woodlands Subtropical Thicket Restoration Programme This link opens in a new window
Paper by C. Marais, R.M. Cowling, M. Powell, A. Mills at the XIII World Forestry Congress Buenos Aires, Argentina, 18 – 23 October 2009
Improving the assessment and monitoring of forest biodiversity This link opens in a new window
This paper aims to present a general analysis and overview of forest biodiversity, emphasising the three main components (structure, composition, function) related to biodiversity. Following this theoretical consideration of forest biodiversity the current proposal of the European Environment Agency for biodiversity indicators is presented as a table with the application to forests identified and the direct/indirect nature of the indicator also indicated.
Social and Ecological Synergy: Local Rulemaking, Forest Livelihoods, and Biodiversity Conservation This link opens in a new window
Recent study in Science Magazine:Causal pathways to achieve social and ecological benefits from forests are unclear, because there are few systematic multicountry empirical analyses that identify important factors and their complex relationships with social and ecological outcomes.We find both positive and negative relationships, leading to joint wins, losses, and trade-offs depending on specific contextual factors...
Slash-and-burn 'improves tropical forest biodiversity' This link opens in a new window
from SciDev Net - report from Mexico 7th Feb 2012

Some links

Biodiversity and Forests at a Glance This link opens in a new window
World Bank publication
Biodiversity hotspots This link opens in a new window
Biological diversity in the coastal forests of Eastern Africa This link opens in a new window
From : The Encyclopedia of Earth
Conserving Forest Biodiversity: A Comprehensive Multiscaled Approach This link opens in a new window
Free downloadable book, published by Island Press, 2002
Convention on Biological Diversity: Forest Biodiversity This link opens in a new window
Forests are biologically diverse systems, representing some of the richest biological areas on Earth. They offer a variety of habitats for plants, animals and micro-organisms. However, forest biodiversity is increasingly threatened as a result of deforestation, fragmentation, climate change and other stressors
Biological diversity in the Eastern Afromontane This link opens in a new window
From : The Encyclopedia of Earth
European Environment Agency: Biodiversity and forest ecosystems in Europe This link opens in a new window
Forests offer much more than Sunday walks, clean air and water, wild birds and mushrooms. In addition to being home to numerous species, forests are vital to the overall health of our environment. The European Environment Agency's (EEA) new short assessment provides an overview of their state and their main threats
Facts on Forests and Forestry This link opens in a new window
ForestFacts presents some facts on environmental aspects of Forests and Forestry, written by Dr Nicholas Menzies in a language for non-specialists
Forest biodiversity: mitigation and adaptation – the linked benefits provided by forests This link opens in a new window
From: Rio Conventions' Ecosystems and Climate Change Pavilion
FOREST EUROPE (The Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe) This link opens in a new window
pan-European policy process for the sustainable management of the continent’s forests. FOREST EUROPE develops common strategies for its 46 member countries and the European Union on how to protect and sustainably manage forests. Founded in 1990, the continuous co-operation of FOREST EUROPE has led to achievements such as the guidelines and criteria for sustainable forest management.
Global Forest Coalition This link opens in a new window
The Global Forest Coalition supports and coordinates joint NGO/IPO campaigns for socially just and effective forest policy and the rights of Indigenous and other forest peoples.
Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 This link opens in a new window
The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 is the most comprehensive assessment of forests and forestry to date - not only in terms of the number of countries and people involved - but also in terms of scope. It examines the current status and recent trends for about 90 variables covering the extent, condition, uses and values of forests and other wooded land, with the aim of assessing all benefits from forest resources.
IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature: Forest Conservation This link opens in a new window
Around 80% of the earth's land area is not formally protected and consists of 'multi-layered' forested landscapes that support people, biodiversity, agricultural activity and industry, making them highly productive....
Mongabay This link opens in a new window
Mongabay.com is considered a leading source of information on tropical forests by some of the world's top ecologists and conservationists.
Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Project (STEP) - South Africa This link opens in a new window
The Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Project (STEP) began in 2000 with a four year planning phase supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the Terrestrial Ecology Research Unit (TERU) at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The main aim of the planning phase was to conduct, together with key stakeholders, a thorough conservation planning exercise in South Africa's Thicket Biome.
Systematic conservation planning for the forest biome of South Africa This link opens in a new window
Approach, methods and results of the selection of priority forests for conservation action, October 2005
(Rep of South Africa, Dept of Water Affairs and Forestry)
The role of forest biodiversity in the sustainable use of ecosystem goods and services in agriculture, agro-forestry, and forestry This link opens in a new window
Presentation by Ian Thompson (et al.)
Canadian Forest Service
Great lakes Forest Research Centre
December, 2010
Timberwatch This link opens in a new window
Formed in 1995 and officially launched in April 1997, the Timberwatch Coalition is a voluntary alliance of South African non-governmental organisations and individuals that are concerned about the negative impacts of industrial tree plantations on people and the environment.
Videos on forest biodiversity This link opens in a new window
from Google
REDD: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation This link opens in a new window
Thicket Forum Presentations This link opens in a new window

Biodiversity: Forest Biodiversity

Definition

Articles

Some links

Books