In a groundbreaking survey, scientists have found that deforestation for cattle farming in Colombia is causing 60% more harm to biodiversity than previously estimated. The research involved the largest bird survey ever conducted, recording 971 species across Colombian forests and pastures.
The findings indicate that the loss of biodiversity from converting rainforest into pastureland is much greater than earlier thought. Traditionally, studies relied on small-scale surveys that did not account for larger-scale ecological impacts. This new study suggests that such local assessments underestimate the widespread damage caused by forest conversion.
Published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, the research highlights significant biodiversity loss across thirteen eco-regions in Colombia. Professor David Edwards from the University of Cambridge emphasized the need for broader policy considerations regarding deforestation's impact on biodiversity: “This is a really surprising result. We found that the biodiversity loss caused by clearing rainforest for pastureland is being massively underestimated.”
He further noted: “When people want to understand the wider impact of deforestation on biodiversity, they tend to do a local survey and extrapolate the results.” The study underscores that different eco-regions must be considered due to varying species sensitivities to habitat changes.
Deforestation for agricultural crops like rubber and oil palm also contributes significantly to environmental degradation in tropical regions. Edwards stated: “The food we eat comes with a much great environmental cost than we thought.”
The study utilized recordings of bird songs over seven years to identify species across various landscapes in Colombia. This method helped predict which other species might inhabit these regions and their potential response to habitat changes.
Colombia's diverse ecosystems include highly biodiverse areas such as Caqueta moist forests, home to hundreds of bird species within small areas but vulnerable to habitat clearance.
Funded by Norway's Research Council and Britain's Natural Environment Research Council, this research emphasizes land-use change as a major factor in global biodiversity decline.