Oxford study: Converting tropical forests into palm oil plantations sharply reduces biodiversity

aspects of forest structure, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning — from soil nutrients and carbon storage to photosynthesis rates and the number of animal species. The findings revealed that deforestation and land conversion significantly affected most of the measured indicators — 60 out of 82. Even moderate logging was found to alter forest structure: removing large, old trees creates canopy gaps that encourage fast-growing species with less dense wood and thinner leaves, which are more vulnerable to herbivores. Converting logged forests into oil palm plantations, however, had an even greater impact on biodiversity. The study recorded drastic declines in the abundance and diversity of birds, mammals, insects, trees, lianas, and even soil microorganisms. Researchers attributed this to reduced food availability and the creation of a hotter, drier microclimate typical of plantation environments. The authors concluded that tropical forests play a ...