Certified forest management and conservation of medium and large-sized mammals: biodiversity, trampling, browsing and seed removal in the Argentine Austral Yungas

Abstract

Timber extraction is one of the most widespread human activities in forested environments, and subsequent environmental degradation and impacts on wildlife have been extensively studied. Reduced impact logging under certification standards could help reconcile forest production with biodiversity conservation. However, whether this is a convenient strategy for the conservation of the medium and large-sized mammal assemblage of the Argentine Austral Yungas remains unknown. Here, we compared species richness, diversity and composition, sign frequency and species identity of medium and large mammals considering body mass and trophic guilds, as well as three mammal-plant interactions (seedling trampling, plant browsing and fruit removal) between an area under logging certification and a similar unlogged area (control). Our results indicate that, 3–4 years after logging stopped, 16 of the 32 variables analyzed showed no changes between the logged area and the control (species composition, richness and 2 diversity indices, frequency of herbivores and omnivores, frequency of 7 species, browsing rate in the 2 lowest strata and trampling rate). In the logged area, we found a higher frequency of medium-sized mammals and 5 mammals species, a higher browsing rate in the upper stratum and a higher fruit removal rate. However, we also found a lower frequency of carnivores, large mammals, and of six mammal species. Although in our study we found certain species-specific differences, with a predominance of generalist species and certain reduced biological interactions in the logged compared to the unlogged area, we propose that forest intervention under responsible management may help to conserve a significant proportion of medium and large-sized mammal diversity of the Argentine Austral Yungas. Effective forest management, which balances the conservation of natural resources with sustainable use, is a crucial solution to preserving biodiversity. Both environmental and governmental organizations should prioritize and support this approach as a way to mitigate deforestation and promote responsible use of our forests.