Satellite images have found that Indonesia’s ancient forests, a cradle of biodiversity and a buffer against climate change, have shrunk much faster than thought. Source: The Australian
Between 2000 and 2012, Indonesia lost about 6.02 million hectares of primary forest, an area almost the size of Sri Lanka.
Primary or ancient forests are distinguished from managed forests, which are plantations of trees grown for timber and pulp.
The researchers found primary forest loss accelerated during the period under review, reaching an annual 840,000ha by 2012 — nearly twice the deforestation rate of Brazil, which was 460,000ha in the same year.
“Indonesia’s forests contain high floral and faunal biodiversity, including 10% of the world’s plants, 12% of the world’s mammals, 16% of the world’s reptile-amphibians and 17% of the world’s bird species,” said the study published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
“Extensive clearing of Indonesian primary forest cover directly results in habitat loss and associated plant and animal extinctions.”
Ancient trees store more carbon emissions from the atmosphere than new ones, and for a longer period, thus mitigating global warming.
The research, led by geographer Belinda Margono of the University of Marylandin the US, looked at long-term satellite images.
During 2000-12, forest cover in Indonesia retreated by 15.79 million hectares, of which 6.02 million or 38% was primary forest, it was found.
Distinguishing between primary and managed forest was vital in the campaign to preserve bio – diversity and combat climate change, the paper said.
The study found lowland and wetland forests in Sumatra and Kalimantan, where trees are typically chopped down by loggers to clear land for farming, lost the most.
