Open Knowledge (FSC OK)

With biodiversity declining at alarming rates, there is an urgent need to conserve natural habitats � particularly tropical forests, which are home to around three-quarters of all species found on land. Commercial logging in tropical forests can degrade ecosystems and fragment habitats, threatening biodiversity. However, when logging is responsibly managed, it has the potential to support local livelihoods and economic development while conserving biodiversity and the other vital services that forests provide. To understand more about the impacts of forest management on biodiversity, WWF supports various research projects around the world. This briefing summarizes the findings of two recent studies carried out in the Peruvian Amazon. These suggest that: � Concessions certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have a greater richness of species such as amphibians, insects and monkeys than non-FSC logging concessions. Acoustic analysis found that the make up of species in FSC-certified sites was more similar to undisturbed forest areas than non-certified logging sites. � Large mammals such as jaguars can thrive in sustainably managed forests. Surveys found that densities of large and medium-sized animals in FSC certified logging concessions were similar to or even higher than in protected areas. These findings suggest that low-impact logging following the FSC standard can be compatible with biodiversity conservation. However, the results observed in Peru do not necessarily apply elsewhere; more research is needed, covering different ecosystems and types of forest management. WWF calls upon governments, forest managers, buyers of forest products and certification schemes to support more biodiversity monitoring to improve our understanding and strengthen conservation measures in tropical forest management.