Logging Concessions Research Articles

Short communication: Variations in leaf morphological characters of Shorea leprosula in progeny trial stand of a logging concession in Kalimantan, Indonesia

Indonesia has the highest distribution of Dipterocarpaceae members, and Shorea leprosula is one of the species that has a natural hybrid in its habitat. Furthermore, the members have intermediate morphological character with the neighboring species, Shorea curtisii. This study aimed to investigate the morphological variations of Shorea leprosula Miq. Progeny trial in PT Sari Bumi Kusuma. The morphological level of 72 Shorea leprosula in PT Sari Bumi Kusuma was identified through sampling. Furthermore, macroscopic and microscopic observations were conducted, and the measurement data were analyzed using cluster and principal component analyses to explain the morphological variable contribution. The results showed leaf architecture variations in laminar shape, apex shape, base shape, and midrib thickness category. The cluster analyses classified the samples into four cluster groups and they consist of a notophyll leaf size category with a rounded base. Meanwhile, the second group consists of an ellipse laminar shape with medium midrib thickness, and the third has an oblong laminar with an obtuse apex shape. The fourth group has a notophyll leaf size category with an obtuse base. The principal component analysis showed that the base shape has the highest contribution to diversity in the samples.

Land use has little influence on the soil seed bank in a central African moist forest

AbstractRegeneration of tropical forest occurs naturally and mainly through early secondary succession by soil seed banks. Here, we analyzed seed bank variation in density and diversity along a degradation gradient. We also explored the relationship (similarity in composition) between the seed and seedling banks and the overstory vegetation. The investigated forests were located at Dja Fauna Reserve and its surroundings, south‐eastern Cameroon. We sampled 33 one‐ha forest plots scattered in a protected area, in a logging concession and in community forests. Within each plot, we inventoried the seed bank in the litter and in four successive soil layers of 5 cm depth interval, and the standing vegetation. Seed density significantly varied with sampling depth but not between land use types. A total of 181 morphospecies were identified. Trees species accounted for 46% of seeds with pioneer species dispersed by animals dominating the seed bank. Species diversity and composition strongly varied with the sampling depth; the litter seed bank was more similar in composition to the soil seed bank than to the seedling bank, sapling, and forest stands. We highlighted the presence of a dense and diverse seed bank in each land use type. We also showed the differentiation of each sampling depth in terms of species composition, thus revealing their complementarity in the dynamics of natural regeneration. The dominance of pioneers in the seed bank and weak relationship with the overstory are universal for tropical forests and logically follow from forest succession after disturbance.Abstract in French is available with online material.

Mammal distribution and trends in the threatened Ebo 'intact forest landscape', Cameroon

Intact forest landscapes (IFLs) are globally important for maintaining functional ecosystems. Ebo forest (~1400 km2) in Cameroon is one of the largest remaining IFLs in the Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forest ecoregion and harbours several IUCN Red-Listed threatened mammal species. We evaluated the status, trends, and distribution of mammals ≥ 0.5 kg in the Ebo forest over 12 years using guided recce and camera trap monitoring surveys, as well as local knowledge to inform future land use and conservation planning. Recce monitoring of six taxa (blue duiker Philantomba monticola, chimpanzee Pan troglodytes, forest elephant Loxodonta cyclotis, putty-nosed monkey Cercopithecus nictitans, medium sized duikers Cephalophus spp., and red river hog Potamochoerus porcus) showed that some are stable or increasing. Indeed, our recent camera trap data confirmed breeding Gorilla gorilla (western gorilla) and elephant. Distribution models for chimpanzees and elephants showed that their populations are concentrated in the centre of the forest, away from human pressure. Some other species, however, including red colobus Piliocolobus preussi, leopard Panthera pardus, African golden cat Caracal aurata, and forest buffalo Syncerus caffer nanus are either close to extirpation or have been extirpated within living memory. We conclude that the Ebo intact forest landscape retains an important mammal community, despite no formal legal protection. Ebo’s future is uncertain, with two commercial logging concessions announced by Cameroon in 2020 and later suspended in response to national and international pressure. It is crucial to maintain Ebo’s integrity to protect the biodiversity and function of this important part of the Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forest ecoregion.

Reconciling resource extraction and species conservation in a multi-use landscape: Immediate and long-term impacts of logging on rainforest mammal diversity

Tropical forest ecosystems are the most species-rich in the world and face intense pressures from land conversion. If done well, selective logging can be an important way of supporting local economies while minimally impacting wildlife. However, most studies on how selective logging affects wildlife come from sites that have been logged some time ago, often a decade or more. Here we assess how logging affects species assemblages in the very short term, immediately after the cessation of timber operations. We estimated overall mammal species richness in unlogged forest, previously logged forest, and an active logging concession in Indonesian Borneo using rarefaction-extrapolation-based diversity estimators. We found that estimated species richness did not differ significantly between unlogged forest (15.5 ± 2.82 species), previously logged forest (14.5 ± 2.10), or recently logged sites (14.2 ± 1.45) sites. Our findings suggest that the short-term impacts of properly managed selective logging are on par with the longer-term impacts that have been assessed in many prior studies.

Impact of Heart Rot of <i>Pericopsis elata</i> (Harms) Van Meeuwen on Yield at Harvest in Production Forests in South-Eastern Cameroon

This study of the impact of heart rot of Pericopsis elata on logging yield was conducted in Libongo, in three logging concessions of the Société d'Exploitation Forestière et Agricole du Cameroun (SEFAC). An inventory of 92 P. elata stumps in four Annual Cutting Areas (AACs) divided among three Forest Management Units (FMUs) distinguished by Minimum Operating Diameter (MOD) revealed that 22 stumps were rotten. Decay was visible on stumps with a diameter of more than 100 cm with a frequency of occurrence of 23.91%, a percentage of abandonment of 55.20% and a yield of 44.79%. The most important economic loss was revealed on 9 abandoned whole logs that cumulated a volume of 145.547 m3. The correlation between the diameter of the stumps and that of the decay gives a coefficient or correlation rate r = 0.31. The MOD for P. elata could be 80 cm and covers the biological risk class. The results indicate that P. elata shows an increasing gradient of decay rate with increasing tree diameter, resulting in a loss of material for larger diameter trees, and consequently a decrease in material yield at processing.

Stream Amphibian Detectability and Habitat Associations in a Reduced Impact Logging Concession in Malaysian Borneo

Borneo's amphibians face an uncertain future due to high levels of forest degradation and a paucity of data for effective conservation management. Several studies identified strong species–habitat relationships in pristine and conventionally logged forests. However, these studies did not account for detectability or habitat associations in sustainably managed forest reserves. Here, we determined detectability and species habitat relationships in stream amphibians within the Deramakot forest reserve, a reduced impact logging concession in the Malaysian state of Sabah, northern Borneo. We analyzed data for 10 stream species collected along 32 stream transects. An occupancy modeling framework was used to determine the climatological, temporal, and environmental covariates associated with detection and occupancy probabilities. We identified high variability in detection probability between species, including significant associations with moon phase (six species), time since sunset (five species), humidity (five species), rainfall (four species), and temperature (three species). Stream slope and volume provided by far the best predictors of occurrence, with significant positive or negative associations with the occupancy of six species each. These associations were more similar to those found in pristine compared with conventionally logged habitats. The highly variable detectability associations within our amphibian community suggest a level of temporal separation in regard to activity and breeding phenology in these species. This stresses the importance of accounting for detection probability via surveying sites across varying climatic/temporal conditions to obtain a representative sample of amphibian communities in pristine and disturbed tropical forests.

Biodiversité et services écosystémiques en forêts tropicales : le rôle des affectations des terres forestières dans la région du Dja, Cameroun

Des dizaines de millions de personnes dépendent des forêts tropicales pour leur subsistance en Afrique centrale. Ces écosystèmes abritent une biodiversité unique et fournissent d'importants services écosystémiques (SE), qui peuvent varier en fonction des stratégies de gestion. Dans cette thèse de doctorat, nous avons évalué la biodiversité et les services écosystémiques dans le paysage du Dja au Cameroun, dans trois affectations des terres forestières : une aire protégée, une concession forestière certifiée FSC et trois forêts communautaires. Tout d'abord, nous avons évalué la valeur de conservation des forêts sur la base de la richesse et de la composition en espèces de deux groupes taxonomiques : les mammifères et les bousiers. Les espèces les plus grandes et les plus menacées ont été détectées dans l’aire protégée et les zones les plus éloignées de la concession forestière, mieux préservées de l'influence humaine. En revanche, les forêts communautaires sont particulièrement défaunées et dégradées en raison de leur proximité avec les routes et les villages, mais elles couvrent des superficies beaucoup plus limitées et conservent une canopée fermée. Deuxièmement, des entretiens identifiant les perceptions de l'offre en SE ont montré que, contrairement aux services de régulation qui ont été rarement mentionnés, les services d’approvisionnement et culturels sont les plus importants pour les populations locales. Parmi ceux-ci, la viande de brousse est le seul service pour lequel l’offre de la forêt n’est pas suffisante pour les populations locales. Troisièmement, en combinant des entretiens et enquêtes de terrain, nous avons quantifié l'utilisation de huit SE d'approvisionnement et culturels par les populations locales. Nous avons constaté que le bois de feu et le bois d'œuvre sont utilisés de manière durable par les populations locales, tandis que la chasse et la consommation de viande de brousse dépassent les seuils de durabilité. Concilier la conservation de la faune sauvage, la sécurité alimentaire et les pratiques de chasse durable est un défi majeur en Afrique centrale. Pour ce faire, il est essentiel d’intégrer toutes les parties prenantes dans les stratégies de gestion forestière durable, permettant d’identifier les leviers sociaux qui sous-tendent les changements de comportement des utilisateurs des forêts.

Orchid diversity in a logging concession in Tabalong District, South Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract. Puspitaningtyas DM. 2020. Orchid diversity in a logging concession in Tabalong District, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 5455-5464. Borneo is the third largest island in the world, and considered the "island of orchids" since it has approximately 2.500-3.000 species of orchids, equivalent to 10% of the orchids in the world. The aim of the research was to study orchid diversity in a logging concession in the village of Dambung Raya, Ara Bintang Sub-district, Tabalong District, South Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. This research also collected living specimens of orchid to be grown in Bogor Botanic Gardens, West Java, Indonesia, and Banua Botanic Gardens, Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. The orchid inventory was carried out using explorative method. The study recorded 64 species of epiphyte orchids and one species of terrestrial orchid, altogether belong to 27 genera. Some interesting orchid species found in this area included Grammatophyllum speciosum Blume, Coelogyne spp. (C. motleyi Rolfe ex J.J.Wood, D.A.Clayton & C.L.Chan, C. foerstermannii Rchb.f., C. rochussenii de Vriese, C. pandurata Lindl.), Acriopsis spp., Pteroceras teres (Blume) Holttum, Thrixspermum raciborskii J.J.Sm. subsp. brevipollinium P. O'Byrne & A. Ent., Thecostele alata (Roxb.) EC Parish & Rchb.f., and Liparis pallida (Blume) Lindl. Orchid endemic to Borneo found in this area were Coelogyne motleyi Rolfe ex JJ Wood, DA Clayton & CL Chan, and Cleisostoma brachystachys (Ridl.) Garay.

Mapping pervasive selective logging in the south-west Brazilian Amazon 2000–2019

Tropical forests harbour the highest biodiversity on the planet and are essential to human livelihoods and the global economy. However continued loss and degradation of forested landscapes, coupled with a rapidly rising global population, is placing incredible pressure on forests globally. The United Nations has developed the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD +) programme in response to the challenges facing tropical forests and in recognition of the role they can play in climate mitigation. REDD + requires consistent and reliable monitoring of forests, however, national-level methodologies for measuring degradation are often bespoke and, because of an inability to track degradation effectively, the majority of countries combine reporting for deforestation and forest degradation into a single value. Here, we extend a recent analysis that enabled the detection of selective logging at the scale of a logging concession to a regional-scale estimation of selective logging activities. We utilized logging records from across Brazil to train a supervised classification algorithm for detecting logged pixels in Landsat imagery then predicted the extent of logging over a 20 year period throughout Rondônia, Brazil. Approximately one-quarter of the forested lands in Rondônia were cleared between 2000 and 2019. We estimate that 11.0% of the forest area present in 2000 had been selectively logged by 2019, comprising >11 500 km2 of forest. In general, rates of selective logging were twice as high in the first decade relative to the last decade of the period. Our approach is a considerable advance in developing an operationalized selective logging monitoring system capable of detecting subtle forest disturbances over large spatial scales.

The Volume Model of Tree Species Group in Peat Swamp Forest at Logging Concession Area of Tingang Karya Mandiri, Central Kalimantan

Tropical peat swamp forest (PSF) has a high species diversity and value including timber value. The valuation of timber is approached by calculating the stand volume. However, the volume model at PSF is not available for every species and species groups in specific site. This study aims to obtain a volume estimation model of species groups of tree species in peat swamp forest in Central Kalimantan. The model development and validation used 120 sample trees of the dipterocarpaceae and non-dipterocarpacae species. The distribution of sample trees is 70 % for the development model and 30 % for the validation stage. Modeling used linear and non-linear models). The selection of the best model used several criteria including: coefficient of determination, relative deviation (SR <8 %) and aggregation (SA <1 %), presumptive bias (s and RSE: Root Square Errors), AIC (Akaike's Information criteriation), and NRMSE (Normalized Root Mean Square Errors). The results of this study indicated the Berkhout/diameter model as a single variable was very good in estimating the volume of trees at all levels namely species groups and all species except dipterocarpaceae groups. This model had a high coefficient of determination (R2 >95 %). The models compiled met the SA and SR criteria so that the models were very accurate in estimating tree volume at the tree level, as individuals and stands. The implication of this research was that the whole species model can be used to estimate the volume of trees in peat swamp forest.

Addressing Potential Conflict Using Participatory Mapping: Collection of Forest Foods From Timber Trees Around Industrial Concessions in Cameroon

Extensive areas of Africa’s humid tropical lowland forests have been allocated to timber concessions, but are also inhabited by villagers who obtain resources from the forest. Approximately 61% of timber species in the Congo Basin also yield locally used non-timber forest products (NTFP). Among these are fruits and oil from Moabi (Baillonella toxisperma), and edible caterpillars from Sapelli (Entandrophragma cylindricum) and Tali (Erythrophleum suaveolens). Participatory mapping was used to understand whether logging affects the availability of these food resources to men and women in villages near timber concessions in two areas of Cameroon. Mapping of collection trees and interviews of 20 male and 20 female collectors, in four villages near two logging concessions showed that during one-day collecting trips people walk an average of 2.7 km (± 1.42) to trees where they collect these resources. Food resources are typically collected by both men and women, but men travel further to specific trees, sometimes combining this with hunting excursions further into the forest. Only 15% of the collection trees were located within the logging concessions. However, 72% of Sapelli, 81% of Moabi and 100% of Tali trees from which food resources were collected were larger than their legal felling diameters, meaning that logging could jeopardize the supply of foods from these species. Prioritizing food values over timber values of trees within a certain radius of villages, and excluding them from logging, would safeguard villagers’ access to these food resources. Already, negotiations between villagers and concessionaires have been successful. Many of the mapped collection trees occurred in agroforestry areas delineated by the concessionaire for the use of villagers; another concessionaire had suspended felling of Moabi trees in response to requests by the villagers. However, an extensive and expanding local logging sector on community forests and other lands outside of industrial timber concessions means that negotiations are also needed even within communities, to address the conflicts between obtaining either a one-time financial windfall from felling a tree (usually a male interest); and ensuring ongoing periodic harvests of foods (typically a priority of women, but also of local Baka pygmies).

Tropical forest loss enhanced by large-scale land acquisitions

Tropical forests are vital for global biodiversity, carbon storage and local livelihoods, yet they are increasingly under threat from human activities. Large-scale land acquisitions have emerged as an important mechanism linking global resource demands to forests in the Global South, yet their influence on tropical deforestation remains unclear. Here we perform a multicountry assessment of the links between large-scale land acquisitions and tropical forest loss by combining a new georeferenced database of 82,403 individual land deals—covering 15 countries in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia—with data on annual forest cover and loss between 2000 and 2018. We find that land acquisitions cover between 6% and 59% of study-country land area and between 2% and 79% of their forests. Compared with non-investment areas, large-scale land acquisitions were granted in areas of higher forest cover in 11 countries and had higher forest loss in 52% of cases. Oil palm, wood fibre and tree plantations were consistently linked with enhanced forest loss while logging and mining concessions showed a mix of outcomes. Our findings demonstrate that large-scale land acquisitions can lead to elevated deforestation of tropical forests, highlighting the role of local policies in the sustainable management of these ecosystems. Tropical deforestation rates are linked to large-scale land investments, according to georeferenced land deal records and remote sensing of forest loss over the past two decades.

The Volume Model of Tree Species Group in Peat Swamp Forest at Logging Concession Area of Tingang Karya Mandiri, Central Kalimantan

Tropical peat swamp forest (PSF) has a high species diversity and value including timber value. The valuation of timber is approached by calculating the stand volume. However, the volume model at PSF is not available for every species and species groups in specific site. This study aims to obtain a volume estimation model of species groups of tree species in peat swamp forest in Central Kalimantan. The model development and validation used 120 sample trees of the dipterocarpaceae and non-dipterocarpacae species. The distribution of sample trees is 70 % for the development model and 30 % for the validation stage. Modeling used linear and non-linear models). The selection of the best model used several criteria including: coefficient of determination, relative deviation (SR <8 %) and aggregation (SA <1 %), presumptive bias (s and RSE: Root Square Errors), AIC (Akaike's Information criteriation), and NRMSE (Normalized Root Mean Square Errors). The results of this study indicated the Berkhout/diameter model as a single variable was very good in estimating the volume of trees at all levels namely species groups and all species except dipterocarpaceae groups. This model had a high coefficient of determination (R2 >95 %). The models compiled met the SA and SR criteria so that the models were very accurate in estimating tree volume at the tree level, as individuals and stands. The implication of this research was that the whole species model can be used to estimate the volume of trees in peat swamp forest. Keywords: accuracy, timber , non-linear, validation

Do forest-management plans and FSC certification help avoid deforestation in the Congo Basin?

To allow for the production of timber while preserving conservation values, forestry regulations in the Congo Basin have made Forest Management Plans (FMP) mandatory in logging concessions. This paper uses original high-resolution maps of forest-cover changes and official records on the activities of logging concessions to analyze the impact of FMP on deforestation in this region. We apply quasi-experimental and difference-in-difference approaches to evaluate the change in deforestation in concessions managed under an approved FMP. We find that between 2000 and 2010, deforestation was 74% lower in concessions with an FMP compared to others. Building on a theory of change, further analyses revealed that this decrease in deforestation takes time to occur and is highest around communities located in and nearby logging concessions, and in areas close to previous deforestation. These findings suggest that FMP help avoid deforestation by allowing logging companies to rotate cycles of timber extraction, thereby avoiding the overexploitation of areas that were previously logged, and by the better regulation of access to concessions by closing former logging roads to limit illegal activities such as shifting agriculture, hunting and the illegal harvest of timber or fuel-wood.

Comparison of several methods of stands inventory prior to logging towards the yield volume of mangrove forest in Bintuni Bay, West Papua Province, Indonesia

Abstract. Istomo, Kusmana C, Dwiyanti FG, Malik D. 2020. Comparison of several methods of stands inventory prior to logging towards the yield volume of mangrove forest in Bintuni Bay, West Papua Province, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 1438-1447. The difference between the estimated volume and the actual harvested volume is the reason that mangrove forest management is unsustainable. To overcome this discrepancy, it is important to do what so called Inventarisasi Tegakan Sebelum Penebangan (ITSP) or stands inventory prior to logging for logging concession. However, the study on suitable ITSP methods for mangrove forests has been limited. This study aims to assess three ITSP methods (namely Line Strip Sampling Method, Line Systematic Sampling Method, and CIFOR’s Modified Method) using two allometric equations (i.e., equation developed specifically by a logging concession and equation developed that has specific formula for each species), and to select the combination of method and allometric equation that produce the highest accuracy for logging concession in mangrove forest, especially in Bintuni Bay, West Papua. The results showed that CIFOR’s Modified Method produces the lowest discrepancy between the estimated volume and the actual harvested volume, followed by Line Strip Sampling Method. In addition, regardless the ITSP methods employed, the allometric equation by Cole et al. (1999) outperforms the equation developed specifically by a logging concession. While producing the lowest discrepancy with plot size is the smallest than other methods, CIFOR’s Modified Method has a disadvantage when applied in the field due to difficulties in making a circular plot. As such, we recommend ITSP method to be used is the Line Strip Sampling method with allometric equation.

Status of Communities Around Forests in Management of Forests Based on Regional Authority in the Order of Regional Autonomy (Study in Kalimantan Island)

RESEARCH on the Position of Communities Around Forests in Forest Management Based on Regional Authorities in the Context of Regional Autonomy (Study on Kalimantan Island) is carried out based on normative legal research methods . from search and analysis, that the management of foresdtry example contained in Law No. 41 of 1999 has progressed because regional authority over forest management is wider than the previous law. This is a manifestation of the increasingly greater authority given to the region to manage the forests in its area. In the management of the forest , there is a concern for the people and the management of the forest and the environment has been integrated. It this become an important part in the efforts for members of the Dayak and forestry accordance with the principles of the management of natural resources are limited. The community's rights in managing forests are protected and recognized so that forest management becomes part of the development of indigenous peoples. This condition is a proof of the respect of indigenous peoples for forests that are already dependent on forests for their potential for life. For it in order to involve the public on the responsibilities and benefits of management forestry, then the public about enforced Dayak late to get involved in the management of the forest . The empowerment of the community by always taking into account the integrative potential of the forest and its future development as a limited natural resource. For this role Concession rights holders Forests are very important in preserving the forest . It is the logging concessions that have great potential to exploit forests because of the complete infrastructure for this. Concession holders were members activities Dayak and forest must consider the condition of the forest , especially for the future. In this case, the integration of handling the problems that arise as a result of exploitation of forests is still not optimal. There are regional authorities which have not been properly implemented due to various regional limitations that are based on the limitations of human resources . In connection with the above, it is necessary to have a regulation that clearly explains the concept of forest management according to Law No. 41 of 1999, so that forest management is truly realized and can bring benefits to the environment and surrounding communities. For this reason, it is also necessary clarify the authority regarding forest management between regencies / cities and provinces. This is to prevent the overlapping of the exercise of authority held by the two institutions specifically with the existence of regional autonomy. Likewise, there needs to be a more concrete affirmation in the legislation regarding the rights of indigenous peoples to forests so that their involvement in forest management for Dayak and community members becomes evident. This is to prevent the continued domination of Forest Concession Rights (HPH) holders over the forest . There is a need for more concrete clarification regarding the implementation of government and provincial government and district / city government implementation by implementing empowerment properly. Here a more comprehensive arrangement is needed for regulations relating to the issuance of Forest Concession Rights (HPH) permits, which are located across regencies / cities where prior to issuance of permits, recommendations from the Regent / Mayor are required. In addition to the fundamental is the regulation that lays policy that regulate more clearly the implementation of the manager 's forests are in line with the Law number: 32 Year 2004 About Regional Government with all amendments thereto. Keywords: Indigenous Peoples; Forest Management ; Regional Autonomy. DOI : 10.7176/JLPG/93-12 Publication date: January 31 st 2020

Does biodiversity benefit when the logging stops? An analysis of conservation risks and opportunities in active versus inactive logging concessions in Borneo

The island of Borneo is a biodiversity hotspot of global importance that continues to suffer from one of the highest deforestation rates in the tropics. Selective logging concessions overlay a third of the remaining natural forests in the Indonesian part of Borneo, but many of these concessions have become inactive in recent years. Whereas the cessation of logging could be beneficial to biodiversity, the absence of a logging company's presence in the forest could also leave the concession open to deforestation by other actors. Using remote sensing analyses, we evaluate 1) whether inactive concessions are more likely to suffer from deforestation than active ones, 2) the possible reasons why concessions become inactive, and 3) which inactive concessions hold the most potential for biodiversity conservation, if protected from deforestation. Our analysis shows that, counterintuitively, inactive concessions overall suffer a higher rate of forest loss than active ones. We find that small concession size and high elevation are correlated with inactive status. We identified several inactive concessions that, if maintained as natural forest, could significantly contribute to biodiversity conservation, as exemplified by their importance to two umbrella species: Bornean orangutan (Critically Endangered) and Sunda clouded leopard (Vulnerable). Because timber operations in other tropical regions are likely to experience similar cycles of activity and inactivity, the fate of inactive timber concessions and the opportunities they create for conservation deserve much greater attention from conservation scientists and practitioners.

Conservation value of tropical forests: Distance to human settlements matters more than management in Central Africa

Tropical forests in Central Africa host unique biodiversity threatened by human degradation of habitats and defaunation. Forests allocated to conservation, production and community management are expected to have different conservation values. Here, we aimed to identify the determinants of the conservation value of tropical forests in southeastern Cameroon, by disentangling the effects of forest allocations, proximity to human settlements, and local habitat. We inventoried two taxonomical groups: mammal species with camera traps (3464 independent detection events) and dung beetle species with pitfall traps (4475 individuals). We used an integrated analytical approach, examining both species richness and composition. For both mammals and dung beetles, species richness decreased from the protected area to the community forests, and the logging concession showed intermediate richness. Species richness of both groups was negatively correlated to the proximity to human settlements and disturbance, with a decreasing gradient of body mass and the loss of the most threatened species. The replacement (i.e., spatial turnover) of both mammal and dung beetle species among forest allocations suggest an integration of conservation initiatives to a large number of different sites, with a priority on protected and remote areas of high biodiversity. These results confirm the high conservation value of protected areas and their essential role in conservation strategies, ecologically connected with well-managed production forests with variable conservation value mainly depending on accessibility. Community forests located close to villages are much more degraded but not totally defaunated and still provide bushmeat to local populations.

Soil Disturbance by Logging Operation of Industrial Plantation Forest in Indonesia

Logging concessions in natural forest and industrial plantation forest are the main producers of logs in Indonesia. Several companies of industrial plantation forest have been successfully planted with fast-growing species such as Acacia mangium for pulpwood. These plantation forests have entered their annual harvesting period. Some options of timber harvesting machines such as forwarder, harvester, feller buncher, and excavator are chosen to remove timber from stump to the log landing site. The negative impact of such machines includes the loss of topsoil and soil compaction. The objectives of the research were to analysis soil compaction by excavator with log carrier in forwarding log from stump to landing site. Bulk density, cone index and deep of rut were measured after logging operation at the harvesting site at one of industrial plantation forest of South Kalimantan. The result showed that soil bulk density increase with the increase in the number of excavator with log carrier passes. The rut was formed on several places on the soil surface, particularly near landings and under the log carrier. The ground pressure of the excavator and log carrier caused the formation of the rut on the soil surface. Weight of excavator plus loads had caused pressure on the track of the contact with the ground. Rut formed and high soil bulk density indicated the soil compaction occurred by the harvesting operation.

Using soundscapes to investigate homogenization of tropical forest diversity in selectively logged forests

Abstract Selective logging in tropical forests changes the local number of animal species (alpha diversity), but it also likely affects species turnover (beta diversity). Whilst such changes are documented in many ecosystems under different disturbances, they are poorly understood in selectively logged tropical forests. By using soundscape recordings across broad spatial scales, we measured soundscape saturation and dissimilarity of pairs of soundscapes, as a proxy of alpha and beta diversity, respectively, in selectively logged and protected tropical forest in Indonesian Borneo. Soundscapes of selectively logged forests were more homogeneous than the soundscapes of never logged forest, and that soundscape saturation of protected forest was higher during the day and lower at night in comparison with selective logging concessions. Synthesis and applications. Selectively logged forests act as an important reservoir of biodiversity. Optimizing such production forests for biodiversity conservation requires the consideration of the total continuous area that is assigned to selective logging, and spatial arrangement of annual cutting blocks, as these could affect beta diversity and its recovery.