Consequences of Illegal Logging
2/08
Maintaining forests is essential in maintaining a healthy environment as nearly 90 percent of terrestrial biodiversity is found in the forests of the world. The rainforests of Indonesia are the most significant in South East Asia, home to an abundance of flora and fauna unmatched in any country of comparable size. Although Indonesia occupies only 1.3 per cent of the world’s land area, it possesses 10 per cent of the world’s flowering plant species, 12 per cent of all mammal species, 17 per cent of all reptile and amphibian species and 17 per cent of all bird species. The majority of these species are found in the country’s forests. Illegal logging and the associated illegal trade directly threatens ecosystems and biodiversity in forests throughout Asia and the world. Most of the carbon emissions of developing nations come from deforestation which, according to the World Bank, accounts for between 10 to 30 per cent of global carbon emissions.
See http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2002/timber_ mafia/resources/resources_consequences2.htm
Tags: Asia, Environment, Logging, Pacific