Forest landscape change and biodiversity conservation

Abstract

Forest landscapes are changing at unprecedented rates in many regions of the world. This may have profound consequences for the diversity and resilience of forest ecosystems and may impose considerable challenges for their management. In this chapter, we review the different types of change that can occur in a forest landscape, including modifications in forest habitat amount, quality, fragmentation, connectivity, and heterogeneity. We describe the conceptual differences and potential interactions among these changes and provide a summary of the possible responses of forest species depending on their degree of habitat specialization, dispersal abilities, and other factors. We review the main current drivers of change in different regions of the world and how they are affecting (often synergistically) forest biodiversity: deforestation, climate change, forest fires, abandonment of rural land, land-use intensification, spread of invasive species, forest management, and the increasing amount of plantation forest. We conclude by providing a summary of recommendations and strategies for mitigating and minimizing the undesirable effects of landscape change on forest biodiversity.