近日，意大利伊斯普拉联合研究中心Bourgoin, C.小组取得一项新突破。他们的研究显示，人类影响热带潮湿森林的退化比以前估计的要严重。相关论文发表在2024年7月3日出版的《自然》杂志上。

研究人员将泛热带潮湿森林覆盖变化的卫星遥感数据，与来自空间光探测和测距(LiDAR)的树冠高度和生物量估计值相结合，量化了多种类型森林结构退化的程度和持久性。研究估计，由于选择性采伐和火灾，森林高度分别下降了15%和50%，即使在20年后恢复率也很低。农业和道路扩张导致森林边缘的冠层高度和生物量减少20%至30%，其持续影响可深达森林内部1.5km处。

边缘效应侵蚀了剩余热带湿润森林的18%(约206Mha)，面积比先前估计的大200%以上。最后，树冠损失超过50%的退化森林明显更容易受到随后砍伐的影响。总的来说，该研究结果呼吁最初更大的努力防止退化和保护已经退化的森林，以实现最近在联合国气候变化和生物多样性会议上作出的保护承诺。

据研究人员介绍，选择性采伐、火灾和边缘效应造成的热带森林退化是碳和生物多样性损失的主要驱动因素，其年增长率与森林砍伐相当。然而，在全球热带尺度上，其实际范围和长期影响仍不确定。

附：英文原文

Title: Human degradation of tropical moist forests is greater than previously estimated

Author: Bourgoin, C., Ceccherini, G., Girardello, M., Vancutsem, C., Avitabile, V., Beck, P. S. A., Beuchle, R., Blanc, L., Duveiller, G., Migliavacca, M., Vieilledent, G., Cescatti, A., Achard, F.

Issue&Volume: 2024-07-03

Abstract: Tropical forest degradation from selective logging, fire and edge effects is a major driver of carbon and biodiversity loss, with annual rates comparable to those of deforestation. However, its actual extent and long-term impacts remain uncertain at global tropical scale. Here we quantify the magnitude and persistence of multiple types of degradation on forest structure by combining satellite remote sensing data on pantropical moist forest cover changes with estimates of canopy height and biomass from spaceborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR). We estimate that forest height decreases owing to selective logging and fire by 15% and 50%, respectively, with low rates of recovery even after 20 years. Agriculture and road expansion trigger a 20% to 30% reduction in canopy height and biomass at the forest edge, with persistent effects being measurable up to 1.5km inside the forest. Edge effects encroach on 18% (approximately 206 Mha) of the remaining tropical moist forests, an area more than 200% larger than previously estimated. Finally, degraded forests with more than 50% canopy loss are significantly more vulnerable to subsequent deforestation. Collectively, our findings call for greater efforts to prevent degradation and protect already degraded forests to meet the conservation pledges made at recent United Nations Climate Change and Biodiversity conferences.

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07629-0

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07629-0