Balancing Biodiversity with Land Use in the Lowland Rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia, a Discussion Paper

摘要: The extinction risk among the terrestrial vertebrates of Southeast Asia, including Indo-Burma and archipelagic regions such as Philippines, Sundaland Wallacea is highest in world. basis for this elevated recent times largely due to clearing forest habitat subsequent conversion plantations or human settlements where a significant fraction vertebrate species are endemic. Among total 500 birds (including inland that occupy riparian habitats) found Peninsular Malaysia, 156 endemic (Peninsular Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo smaller island west Wallace Line) which 82 (53%) now red-listed by IUCN. Lowland forests, primarily dipterocarp rainforests (as represented Pasoh Reserve Forest) have undergone most extensive shrinkage their former area; hence they carry biota. Continued expropriation timber plantation agroforestry will further fragment these forests reduce likelihood fully functioning ecosystems can regenerate. We discuss strategy identify what remains primary lowland especially patches with adequate area support viable populations functional community overcome loss through stochastic events. Stimulation competitive industry oil palm maintains intact natural would bolster security rainforest from an economic perspective.