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Protection of mahogany: a catalytic species in the destruction of rain forests in the American tropics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 1997

PHILIP M. FEARNSIDE
Affiliation:
National Institute for Research in the Amazon (INPA), Caixa Postal 478, 69011-970 Manaus-AmazonasBrazil

Abstract

Mahogany as a catalytic species. Logging of American (bigleaf ) mahogany (Swietenia spp.) initiates a series of events that leads to degradation and later destruction of tropical forests in the New World. It also is a spear-point for penetration of indigenous areas by loggers, who inflict both social and environmental impacts on the tribes. Mahogany populations are declining and are not being replenished by natural regener-ation; the situation of the species continues to worsen in the field.

Type
Comment
Copyright
© 1997 Foundation for Environmental Conservation

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