Abstract
Southeast Asia has some of the highest deforestation rates globally, with Malaysia being identified as a deforestation hotspot. The Malayan tiger, a critically endangered subspecies of the tiger endemic to Peninsular Malaysia, is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation. In this study, we estimate the natural forest loss and conversion to plantations in Peninsular Malaysia and specifically in its tiger habitat between 1988 and 2012 using the Landsat data archive. We estimate a total loss of 1.35 Mha of natural forest area within Peninsular Malaysia over the entire study period, with 0.83 Mha lost within the tiger habitat. Nearly half (48%) of the natural forest loss area represents conversion to tree plantations. The annual area of new plantation establishment from natural forest conversion increased from 20 thousand ha year−1 during 1988–2000 to 34 thousand ha year−1 during 2001–2012. Large-scale industrial plantations, primarily those of oil palm, as well as recently cleared land, constitute 80% of forest converted to plantations since 1988. We conclude that industrial plantation expansion has been a persistent threat to natural forests within the Malayan tiger habitat. Expanding oil palm plantations dominate forest conversions while those for rubber are an emerging threat.
Highlights
Malaysia is a megadiverse country [1] and is a part of the Southeast Asian biodiversity hotspot [2].The Malayan tiger, Panthera tigris jacksoni, is endemic to Peninsular Malaysia and is threatened by habitat loss, in addition to poaching and the illegal trade of tiger parts, hunting of tiger prey, and retaliatory killings arising from human-wildlife conflicts [3]
Our study maps the natural forest for Peninsular Malaysia for circa 1988 and the forest loss between 1988 and 2000, and aggregates our forest loss with the GFC
We find that natural forest loss continues within Peninsular Malaysia, within its tiger habitat
Summary
Malaysia is a megadiverse country [1] and is a part of the Southeast Asian biodiversity hotspot [2]. The Malayan tiger, Panthera tigris jacksoni, is endemic to Peninsular Malaysia and is threatened by habitat loss, in addition to poaching and the illegal trade of tiger parts, hunting of tiger prey, and retaliatory killings arising from human-wildlife conflicts [3]. Repeated population studies at a couple of sites indicate a 50 and 90% decline in tiger density estimates [3]. Increasing human population, in addition to agricultural and infrastructure development, have resulted in the reduction of wildland extent, forcing tigers to survive in human-dominated landscapes [4]. Asian countries have the highest population densities in forested areas and a long history of agricultural development [5]. Southeast Asia has some of the highest deforestation rates globally [6] and has a large proportion of cultivated/agricultural land under tree plantations [5]
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