Destruction of New Britain Rainforest Endangering Endemic Species
New Britain Deforestation
- The estimated rate of forest loss each year is 1.1 per cent on New Britain compared to 0.8-0.9 per cent for South-East Asia. It is unclear whether palm oil development is driving forest clearance but it is likely that palm oil plantations will increase rapidly. Flatter coastal land is more suitable for these plantations.
Satellite images have revealed that rainforest is being logged on one of the world’s wildlife hotspots more quickly than almost anywhere else in South-East Asia.
Before and after pictures of New Britain, which is part of Papua New Guinea, reveal that 12 per cent of forest including 20 per cent of lowland forest was cleared between 1989 and 2000, badly affecting 21 bird species including 16 species found no-where else in the world.
The images, part of a study published in the journal Biological Conservation, have prompted conservationists to call for urgent action to protect what remains of rainforest in New Britain. As a result of the study, 10 bird species could be given more serious threat classifications by the IUCN-World Conservation Union when its updated ‘red list’ is published this spring
The RSPB’s Dr Graeme Buchanan, the paper’s lead author, said: ‘The area is unique and should be better protected and managed. We think the rate of deforestation is accelerating and is already higher than the average for South-East Asia.
The images, part of a study published in the journal Biological Conservation, have prompted conservationists to call for urgent action to protect what remains of rainforest in New Britain. As a result of the study, 10 bird species could be given more serious threat classifications by the IUCN-World Conservation Union when its updated ‘red list’ is published this spring
The RSPB’s Dr Graeme Buchanan, the paper’s lead author, said: ‘The area is unique and should be better protected and managed. We think the rate of deforestation is accelerating and is already higher than the average for South-East Asia.
Timber and Palm Oil
‘The demand for timber and palm oil is likely to be driving this destruction and if nothing is done soon, some of New Britain’s endemic species could disappear for good. Logging in the last 20 years has already left at least 10 birds close to extinction and if the rate of deforestation continues, all forest below 200m will be gone by 2060.’
The study contrasted satellite photos of New Britain taken 11 years apart. For the first time, the images were compared with the habitats of New Britain’s birds to assess how each species was affected.
Endemic Birds
Six species, including the Bismarck kingfisher and green-fronted hanging-parrot, had lost or were predicted to lose more than one fifth of their habitat. The scientists concluded that numbers of these two species had probably dropped by more than 30 per cent.
Another 23 birds had lost over 10 per cent of habitat including the yellowish imperial-pigeon, whose population may have fallen by nearly a third. Hardest hit of endemic birds were the slaty-mantled sparrowhawk, New Britain bronzewing and black honey-buzzard.
‘The demand for timber and palm oil is likely to be driving this destruction and if nothing is done soon, some of New Britain’s endemic species could disappear for good. Logging in the last 20 years has already left at least 10 birds close to extinction and if the rate of deforestation continues, all forest below 200m will be gone by 2060.’
The study contrasted satellite photos of New Britain taken 11 years apart. For the first time, the images were compared with the habitats of New Britain’s birds to assess how each species was affected.
Endemic Birds
Six species, including the Bismarck kingfisher and green-fronted hanging-parrot, had lost or were predicted to lose more than one fifth of their habitat. The scientists concluded that numbers of these two species had probably dropped by more than 30 per cent.
Another 23 birds had lost over 10 per cent of habitat including the yellowish imperial-pigeon, whose population may have fallen by nearly a third. Hardest hit of endemic birds were the slaty-mantled sparrowhawk, New Britain bronzewing and black honey-buzzard.
The Bismarck kingfisher
- The Bismarck kingfisher, Alcedo websteri, is a bird of lowland forest rivers. Its numbers are falling because of habitat loss. At 22cm long, it is larger than the common kingfisher seen in the UK, but is similarly coloured. It has been seen in damaged forest areas but is affected by sediment run-off from logged areas.
Satellite Imagery
This study is the first to use satellite imagery to assess the threats facing individual bird species and conservationists say the technique could be invaluable in surveying other parts of the region where access is poor or an area too vast to cover on the ground.
Dr Stuart Butchart, a co-author from BirdLife International, said: ‘New Britain’s endemic birds are being driven to extinction by our thirst for palm oil, which is widely used in foodstuffs and industry.
‘After wiping out the lowland forests of Malaysia and Indonesia, companies are now moving eastwards, to New Guinea and Melanesia, where they now threaten a whole new suite of species’.
This study is the first to use satellite imagery to assess the threats facing individual bird species and conservationists say the technique could be invaluable in surveying other parts of the region where access is poor or an area too vast to cover on the ground.
Dr Stuart Butchart, a co-author from BirdLife International, said: ‘New Britain’s endemic birds are being driven to extinction by our thirst for palm oil, which is widely used in foodstuffs and industry.
‘After wiping out the lowland forests of Malaysia and Indonesia, companies are now moving eastwards, to New Guinea and Melanesia, where they now threaten a whole new suite of species’.
