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Tropical Rain Forest: A Wider Perspective pp 175–198Cite as

Causes of tropical deforestation and institutional constraints to conservation

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Part of the Conservation Biology Series book series (COBI,volume 10)

Abstract

Deforestation rates in the tropics remain high despite global concern for loss of forests and wildlands. The amount of deforestation increased from 75 000 km2 annually in 1979 to 132 000 km2 in 1991 (Myers, 1994). Deforestation in the tropics has severe biological and economic consequences. Tropical forests harbour a disproportionate amount of biodiversity relative to their area. For example, more than one half of all species are estimated to occur in the tropics, which occupy only 7% of the earth’s land area (Myers, 1984). Approximately 34 000 endemic species of plants, which represent 13% of the world’s plant species, occur in 3.5% of the area of the tropics (Myers, 1988). Because of the magnitude and the irreversibility of the losses, the actual and potential loss of these species and the ecosystems in which they occur constitutes one of the greatest environmental disasters of our time.

Keywords

  • Ecosystem Service
  • Tropical Forest
  • Forest Cover
  • Forest Resource
  • External Debt

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA, 02125, USA

    K. S. Bawa & S. Dayanandan

Authors
  1. K. S. Bawa
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  2. S. Dayanandan
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ecology and Conservation Unit, Department of Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    Dr F. B. Goldsmith

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Bawa, K.S., Dayanandan, S. (1998). Causes of tropical deforestation and institutional constraints to conservation. In: Goldsmith, F.B. (eds) Tropical Rain Forest: A Wider Perspective. Conservation Biology Series, vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4912-9_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4912-9_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-412-81520-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-4912-9

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