title: Maintaining ecosystem function and services in logged tropical forests.
abstract: Vast expanses of tropical forests worldwide are being impacted by selective logging. We evaluate the environmental impacts of such logging and conclude that natural timber-production forests typically retain most of their biodiversity and associated ecosystem functions, as well as their carbon, climatic, and soil-hydrological ecosystem services. Unfortunately, the value of production forests is often overlooked, leaving them vulnerable to further degradation including post-logging clearing, fires, and hunting. Because logged tropical forests are extensive, functionally diverse, and provide many ecosystem services, efforts to expand their role in conservation strategies are urgently needed. Key priorities include improving harvest practices to reduce negative impacts on ecosystem functions and services, and preventing the rapid conversion and loss of logged forests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK; Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) and School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, Smithfield, QLD 4878, Australia. Electronic address: david.edwards@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, Oxford University, OX1 3PS, UK.
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tobias
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, NO-1432 Ås, Norway; School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia; Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sheil
authors.affiliation: Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor, Indonesia; People and Nature Consulting International, Jakarta, Indonesia; Australian research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meijaard
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) and School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, Smithfield, QLD 4878, Australia.
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Laurance
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D005390:Fires; D016468:Forestry / Q000379:methods*; D065928:Forests; D013997:Time Factors; D014329:Tropical Climate