Mammals Under Siege: Protected Forests Aren't Enough to Save Endangered Species

Tropical forests cover less than 10% of Earth’s surface but are home to over 60% of the world’s species. These forests are crucial for biodiversity, yet they face increasing threats from agriculture and industrial expansion. A new study reveals that even protected areas are affected by nearby human activities like hunting and development. Researchers discovered that human presence near forests, even without direct land destruction, can reduce the number of mammal species in these regions, a phenomenon called “anthropogenic extinction filtering.”

The study, led by Ilaria Greco and the University of Florence, analyzed mammal populations in tropical forests across South America, Africa, and Asia, using over 2,000 trail cameras. They found that areas with higher human population density or fragmented habitats had significantly fewer species. To protect wildlife, conservation efforts must go beyond protected areas, including restoration and creating connected corridors between forests. This study emphasizes that conservation strategies must account for human impacts outside of protected zones to ensure the survival of endangered species.

#TropicalForests #Biodiversity #Conservation #WildlifeProtection #EndangeredSpecies #HumanImpact #Sustainability #ForestRestoration #ClimateAction #PLOSBiology #Ecology #TropicalWildlife #HabitatPreservation #MammalConservation

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Nature reserves not enough: human pressure suffocates protected areas
https://eeb.msu.edu/news/human-pressure-suffocates-protected-areas.aspx

Study: Landscape-level human disturbance results in loss and contraction of mammalian populations in tropical forests
https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002976

Tropical Ecology Assessment and Monitoring (TEAM) Network
https://app.wildlifeinsights.org/initiatives/2000017/Tropical-Ecology-Assessment-and-Monitoring-(TEAM)-Network

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