Logging in tropical forests jeopardizing drinking water

Date:

April 16, 2018

Source:

Wildlife Conservation Society

Summary:

Researchers have found that increasing land clearing for logging in Solomon Islands -- even with best management strategies in place -- will lead to unsustainable levels of soil erosio

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River plume draining into the sea full of sediment from upstream logging activity in Western Province, Solomon Islands.

Credit: Wade Fairley

Globally, remaining tropical forests are being rapidly cleared, particularly in countries like the Solomon Islands where commercial logging accounts for about 18 percent of government revenue, and at least 60 percent of exports while providing the largest number of formal sector jobs. However, the loss of native forests has huge ecological and social consequences, many of which are poorly documented.