More than 85% of the world’s bird, mammal and amphibian species live in mountains, especially in forested habitats, but researchers note that these forests are disappearing at an increasing rate.

Since 2000, 78.1 million hectares of mountain forests (7.1%) have been lost worldwide, more than the area of ​​Texas, according to a study published in the journal One Earth. Much of the loss has occurred in tropical biodiversity hotspots, resulting in an increased pressure on endangered species.

While their steep location once protected mountain forests from deforestation, they have come under increasing exploitation since the early 21st century as lowland areas become depleted or come under protection.

A team of scientists from the University of Leeds and China’s Southern University of Science and Technology tracked changes in mountain forests annually from 2001 to 2018. Significant losses occurred in Asia, South America, Africa, Europe and Australia, but not in North America and Oceania. It is alarming that the rate of loss of mountain forests appears to be increasing, with the annual loss rate increasing by 50% from 2001-2009 to 2010-2018. Researchers attribute this acceleration to the rapid expansion of agriculture in the highlands of mainland Southeast Asia, as well as the increase in deforestation of mountainous areas.

The largest cause of mountain forest loss overall was deforestation (42%), followed by fires (29%), cultivation of burned and cleared land (15%), and permanent or semi-permanent agriculture (10%).

Tropical montane forests experienced the largest loss (42%) and the fastest accelerating rate of loss, which also had a higher rate of recovery compared to montane forests in temperate and arctic regions. Overall, the researchers observed some signs of reforestation in 23% of the lost forests.

There is less forest loss in protected areas than in unprotected areas, but researchers warn that this may not be enough to save endangered species.

Source: RES-IPE