Existing comment:
S. Joseph Wright (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute)
Various slides:
We agree:
(1) Habitat loss, direct persecution and climate change are the primary threats to tropical biodiversity
(2) Direct persecution threatens larger and charismatic species
(3) Global warming will bring novel climates to the tropics with unforeseen consequences and is implicated in an ongoing mass extinction of tropical montane frogs (Pounds et al 2006 Nature)
(4) Forest loss varies geographically from <10% to >90%
(5) Rates of land use and land cover change are accelerating throughout the tropics.
Points of controversy:
(1) How much tropical forest will remain in the future? -- 5-10% vs 32-45%
(2) What is the conservation value of altered forests? -- Minimal vs substantial
(3) What are the implications of forest change for extinction? -- Uniform vs variable (you can't use insects as predictors for what happens to higher animals)
(4) How effective are tropical nature reserves? -- Paper parks vs generally successful
-- Is the area protected sufficient?
Bottom line: We disagree about the threat habitat loss poses for tropical biodiversity
Some believe climate change poses a greater threat.
Policy implications: The responsible party should contribute to the solution.
Policy implications of our debate
Threat -- Responsible party -- Solution
Hunting -- Local people & government -- Reserves & regulation
Habitat loss -- Local people & government -- Reserves & regulation
Climate change -- % global carbon dioxide from fossil fuel: USA 22%, China 19%, EU 18%, Other developed countries 11% -- Mitigation: cash payments to protect C stock in forests, Adaptation: not being addressed |