General Conservation Concerns
Tendency of humans to exhibit preference for dry forests
Humans in tropical areas tend to prefer surroundings with PET/P ratios near 1:1, but as temperatures increase, they tend to choose areas with drier climates (ratio greater than 1:1). The fact that dry forests are generally composed of smaller trees means that clearing for agricultural land is easier, and dry climates are much more appropriate for care of domesticated animals. The lower rainfall levels, and therefore lower levels of nutrient leaching, also contribute to greater soil fertility, while weeds and other unwanted successional plants are less successful in dry forest environments. Drier climates may also lessen the impact of diseases in human populations as well. [3]. Importance of research in tropical dry forest Tropical dry forests represent a high percentage of tropical vegetation, yet there are very few studies in this particular area. Also, there is a severe need for solid data on the natural regenerative traits of the species that grow in this area. [11]. Tropical dry forests have been seen to exhibit high proportions of endemic species (20%). More research on these special species could influence greater efforts in conserving tropical dry forest areas. [4]. Threats Dry tropical forest face many threats: The most dangerous threats to tropical dry forests are products of human behavior. Tropical dry forests are exploited heavily for agricultural usage because of their generally fertile soils and flat landscapes. In the Neotropics especially, (Central and South America) deforestation for agriculture has caused huge declines in the remaining areas of tropical dry forests. Rivers and other naturally occurring water sources within tropical dry forests that have agricultural establishments near by are very susceptible to having damaging pollutants and sediments injected into them. With high amounts of agriculture comes the need for irrigation. Irrigation techniques in tropical dry forest areas usually employ the use of damming rivers and lakes in order to contain and redirect water for agricultural use. Damming greatly reduces the flow of water through the surrounding ecosystems within a tropical dry forest, areas that already experience large periods of drought. This effect can be devastating to the species in these regions by creating longer than normal or even permanent dry periods. |
Fragmentation is another huge threat to the tropical dry forest ecosystem. The construction of roads, buildings, and other man-made structures create unnatural barriers within the TDF ecosystems that greatly affect the flow of wildlife through the ecosystem. This can negatively affect the behavior and composition of many different species’ populations within the ecosystem. Fires, especially those that are man-made, are also another big threat to TDF ecosystem. TDF are especially sensitive to fire because of their naturally long dry periods and sometimes unpredictable cycles between dry and wet periods.
[4] [12].
[4] [12].