The History of Deforestation and Forest Fragmentation: A Global Perspective

Bhagwat, Shonil (2014). The History of Deforestation and Forest Fragmentation: A Global Perspective. In: Kettle, Chris J. and Koh, Lian Pin eds. Global Forest Fragmentation. Wallingford: CAB International, pp. 5–19.

URL: http://www.cabi.org/bookshop/book/9781780642031

Abstract

This chapter draws on long-term ecological studies from across the globe to reconstruct the history of deforestation and forest fragmentation. It includes studies from a variety of forest biomes focusing on the last 11,500 years (the Holocene), paying particular attention to forest fragmentation as a result of expanding agricultural frontiers. Piecing together evidence from a number of case studies from around the world, this chapter attempts to provide a timeline of the earliest occurrence of forest fragmentation and its extent. While there are a large number of studies from Europe and Asia and a few from the Americas, Australasia and Eurasia, limited information is available from tropical Americas, Africa, and South and South-east Asia. This chapter indicates the need for further research of the literature and a global meta-analysis to identify the evidence for historical deforestation and forest fragmentation. The chapter also highlights the need for long-term ecological research and palaeoecological investigations to enhance our understanding of the historical timeline of deforestation and forest fragmentation in the tropics.

Viewing alternatives

Look up in Google Scholar

Item Actions

Export

CORE (COnnecting REpositories)

Recommendations