BIG TREE

Big trees are declining throughout the world, says scientist. Already on the decline worldwide from large-scale forest clearing, big trees face a dire future due to habitat fragmentation, selective harvesting by loggers, exotic invaders, and the effects of climate change, warns a leading scientist in an article published this week in New Scientist magazine. Reviewing research from forests around the world, William Laurance, an ecologist at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia, provides evidence of decline among the world's "biggest and most magnificent" trees and details the range of threats they face. He says their demise will have substantial impacts on biodiversity and forest ecology, while worsening climate change. "To persist, big trees need a safe place to live and long periods of stability," he said. "But time and stability are becoming very rare commodities in our modern world." (Written by Bill Laurance). (Photo : Big tree at Brownsberg Natural Park, Suriname, with ATBC Members after ATBC2008 Annual Meeting. © Tropicalbio.org)