<
https://theconversation.com/more-than-half-of-nsws-forests-and-woodlands-are-gone-as-ongoing-logging-increases-extinction-risks-study-shows-235416>
"Since European colonisation, 29 million hectares (54%) of the forests and
woodlands that once existed in New South Wales have been destroyed. A further 9
million ha have been degraded in the past two centuries. This amounts to more
than 60% of the state’s forest estate.
We will never know the full impacts this rampant clearing and degradation have
had on the state’s wildlife and plants. But it is now possible to put into
perspective the impacts of logging practices in the past two decades on species
that have already suffered enormous loss.
Cutting down native vegetation for timber destroys habitat for forest-dependent
species. Our research, published today, has found ongoing logging in NSW
affects the habitat of at least 150 species considered at risk of extinction,
due mostly to historical deforestation and degradation.
Thirteen of these species are listed as critically endangered. This means there
is a 20% probability of extinction in ten years (or five generations, whichever
is longer) without urgent conservation action.
The bare and highly disturbed areas created by logging also increase risks of
erosion, fire and invasion by non-native species."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
