He, X, Ziegler, AD, Elsen, PR et al. (6 more authors) (2023) Accelerating global mountain forest loss threatens biodiversity hotspots. One Earth, 6 (3). pp. 303-315. ISSN 2590-3330
Abstract
The frontier of forest loss has encroached into mountains in some regions. However, the global distribution of forest loss in mountain areas, which are home to >85% of the world’s birds, mammals, and amphibians, is uncertain. Here we combine multiple datasets, including global forest change and selected species distributions, to examine spatiotemporal patterns, drivers, and impacts of mountain forest loss. We find 78 Mha of montane forest was lost during 2001–2018 and annual loss accelerated significantly, with recent losses being 2.7-fold greater than those at the beginning of the century. Key drivers of mountain forest loss include commercial forestry, agriculture, and wildfire. Areas with the greatest forest loss overlap with important tropical biodiversity hotspots. Our results indicate protected areas within mountain biodiversity hotspots experienced lower loss rates than their surroundings. Increasing the area of protection in mountains should be central to preserving montane forests and biodiversity in the future.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | Ⓒ 2023 Elsevier Inc. This is an author produced version of an article published in One Earth made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0) in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | highlands; forest loss; elevational gradient; biodiversity hotspots; threatened species; endemism; range-size rarity; protected areas |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Inst for Climate & Atmos Science (ICAS) (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Geography (Leeds) > River Basin Processes & Management (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 31 Mar 2023 13:31 |
Last Modified: | 17 Mar 2024 01:13 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Cell Press |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.02.005 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:197867 |