Rainforest is being logged on one of the world’s wildlife hotspots more quickly than almost anywhere else in South-East Asia.

Deforestation in New Britain, a 14,600-mile square island off the east coast of Papua New Guinea, is badly affecting 21 bird species including 16 species found no-where else in the world.

Before and after pictures of New Britain show that 12 per cent of forest including 20 per cent of lowland forest was cleared between 1989 and 2000.
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The satellite images shown are part of a study published in the journal Biological Conservation, which have prompted conservationists to call for urgent action to protect what remains of rainforest in New Britain.

When the IUCN-World Conservation Union updates its 'Red List' this spring, 10 bird species could be given more serious threat classifications following this study.

About 11 per cent of cleared land on New Britain has been converted to palm oil or coconut plantations so far. Both form vast monocultures in which wildlife rarely survives.

The RSPB’s Dr Graeme Buchanan, the paper’s lead author, said: "The area is unique and should be better protected and managed. We think the rate of deforestation is accelerating and is already higher than the average for South-East Asia."

"The demand for timber and palm oil is likely to be driving this destruction and if nothing is done soon, some of New Britain’s endemic species could disappear for good. Logging in the last 20 years has already left at least 10 birds close to extinction and if the rate of deforestation continues, all forest below 200m will be gone by 2060."

Six species, including the Bismarck kingfisher and green-fronted hanging-parrot, had lost or were predicted to lose more than one fifth of their habitat. The scientists concluded that numbers of these two species had probably dropped by more than 30 per cent.

Another 23 birds had lost over 10 per cent of habitat.

The Bismarck kingfisher, Alcedo websteri, is a bird of lowland forest rivers. Its numbers are falling because of habitat loss. At 22cm long, it is larger than the common kingfisher seen in the UK, but is similarly coloured. It has been seen in damaged forest areas but is affected by sediment run-off from logged areas.

In the period studied, most deforestation took place near the coast, the area supporting the largest populations of endemic species. Species such as the Bismarck kingfisher with narrow altitudinal ranges were most severely affected by forest clearance.

Dr Graeme Buchanan: "If the rate of deforestation continues, all forest below 200m will be gone by 2060."

This study is the first to use satellite imagery to assess the threats facing individual bird species. Conservationists say the technique could be invaluable in surveying other parts of the region where access is poor or an area too vast to cover on the ground.

Dr Stuart Butchart, a co-author from BirdLife International, said: "New Britain’s endemic birds are being driven to extinction by our thirst for palm oil, which is widely used in foodstuffs and industry."

"After wiping out the lowland forests of Malaysia and Indonesia, companies are now moving eastwards, to New Guinea and Melanesia, where they now threaten a whole new suite of species."

Deforestation is one of the greatest threats to wildlife worldwide. While rainforests continue to be cleared as countries develop economically, it is the wildlife that suffer, and without careful management there could be severe consequences.

The article Wildlife suffer as deforestation reigns originally appeared on 999 Today