The future of tropical forests
I will evaluate recent trends in land use change, climate change and their implications for the conservation of biodiversity in the tropics. Rates of deforestation are declining, rates of wood extraction are increasing, and rates of land abandonment and natural reforestation are also increasing. Net land use changes include large declines in old growth forest cover and large increases in human modified forest cover. An immense area has also been protected for conservation. Key questions to be addressed concern the ability of tropical species to persist in the new, modified forests and responses to climate change in protected forests as well as in the new, modified forests.
Contact
Kristen Granger
klg297@psu.edu