#Forests are critical for #climate protection and for safeguarding indigenous peoples, endangered animals and rare plants. However global #deforestation targets and environmental legislation is lax and falling short. Strong international law is needed to curb deforestation. Along with proactive support for #Indigenous land rights, #agroecology and decolonisation. Act now and he
The world is falling behind on commitments to protect and restore forests, according to the recent Forest Declaration Assessment. There is no serious pathway to fixing climate change while forest losses continue at current rates, because global climate targets, sustainable development goals and forest commitments depend on each other.
There have been multiple global commitments to forests, with hundreds of governments and businesses signing up to pledges named after cities they were signed in: Bonn in 2011, New York in 2014, Glasgow in 2021. But these pledges have not been realised, and deforestation reduction targets are slipping each year. Global deforestation between 2010 and 2022, in million hectares. Forest Declaration Assessment 2023, CC BY-SA Global forest loss in 2022 was 6.6 million hectares, an area about the size of Ireland. Thatâs 21% more than the amount that would keep us on track to meet the target of zero deforestation by 2030, agreed in Glasgow. The loss of tropical rainforest is even more pronounced: 33% over the target needed. Deforestation in 2022 marked a 4% step back on 2021 progress.
Why we are failing to protect forests
There isnât one simple explanation for why forests are still disappearing. Factors include a lack of Indigenous Peoples rights to their territories, forest-harming financial and trade systems, and the physical effects of climate change and fire.
Subsidies that can lead to deforestation are worth between US$381 billion (ÂŁ314 billion) and US$1 trillion (ÂŁ825 billion) per year. These could include handing out public land to settlers, building roads or pipes to enable industrial-scale farming, keeping taxes on agricultural products artificially low, or subsidies on specific crops grown on formerly forested lands.
There are also illegal activities. By one recent estimate, 69% of the tropical forest cleared for agriculture between 2013 and 2019 violated national laws and regulations. The illegal timber trade is estimated to be worth US$150 billion per year globally.
There is simply not enough money going to support forests. Public finance for forests is less than 1% â) of the amount invested in activities that are environmentally harmful or incentivise deforestation. A warmer world means more forest fires. Ringo Chiu / shutterstock Around the globe, forests are also being harmed by climate change and shifting patterns of wildfires. Climate change is causing more fires, including in forests that do not usually burn, and producing hotter fires which cause long-term damage even in fire-adapted forests. The length and severity of droughts is increasing, inducing water stress which kills trees. A combination of climate-related stresses means that trees in the tropics, temperate and boreal forests, are experiencing dying younger and massive âdie offsâ are happening more often.
If the effects of fire and climate change continue post-Anthropocene forests are likely to be smaller, simpler in species, emptied of wildlife and restricted to steeper ground where agriculture is less favoured.
Computer simulations of the future climate, known as climate models, depict very different outcomes for forests depending on whether we limit global warming or not. If emissions are reigned in and we leave some cultivated land to nature, 350 million hectares of forest could return by 2100. Thatâs an area roughly the size of India. However, in a future where emissions remain high and land use doesnât change, the models suggest a loss of a further 500 million hectares of forest by 2100.
How To Get Back On Track
The new Forest Pathways Report I worked on sets out an action plan for getting back on track. It asks global leaders and businesses to:
Accelerate the recognition of Indigenous Peoples and local communitiesâ right to own and manage their lands, territories and resources.
Provide more money, both public and private, to support sustainable forest economies.
Reform the rules of global trade that harm forests, getting deforesting commodities out of global supply chains, and removing barriers to forest-friendly goods.
Shift towards nature-based and bio economies.
At the next COP28 climate summit in Dubai, there is the promise of bilateral announcements between wealthy donor nations and forested nations in the tropics, as part of the Forest and Climate Leadersâ Partnership signed in Glasgow, two years ago. These packages could support a move towards sustainable forest management and deforestation-free supply chains around the world.
This would be a valuable success, but leadership is desperately needed on other issues such as environmentally harmful subsidies or illegal logging, the financial scale of which both dwarf the funding provided to protect forests.
Critically endangered Phayreâs langurs and endangered capped langurs of Bangladesh, are interbreeding raising concerns about their survival, take action! Read more
Sunda flying lemurs AKA Malayan colugos rely on ancient forests to survive, despite being skilful gliders, palm oil is a major threat, boycott palm oil! Read more
MondelÄz International who make Oreos keep sourcing palm oil from suppliers linked to violence and deforestation. Their RSPO certification is pure greenwash! Read more
Titan Arum AKA âCorpse Flowersâ is famous for its repulsive meat smell. Palm oil agriculture is a massive threat to these rare stinky plants. Take action! Read more
Western Parotias AKA Arfak Parotias are stunning bird-of-paradise of West Papua known for their mesmerising dances. Palm oil and mining ecocide are threats Read more
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Tropical forests are threatened worldwide. This study finds Indigenous Lands reduce deforestation and degradation throughout the tropics at rates comparable to protected areas and at higher rates in Africa.
Beautiful and Doomed: Saving Bangladeshâs Langurs From Extinction
A recent study has found hybridisation (interbreeding) between critically endangered Phayreâs #langurs and endangered capped langurs in #Bangladesh, raises serious concerns about their genetic health and future survival as distinct species. Hybridisation is a serious sign of ecological disruption, and researchers point to human-related threats such as #palmoil and #timber #deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and #hunting as key drivers for them interbreeding. These pressures not only push the species to hybridise but also threaten their long-term existence in the wild, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to address habitat destruction and protect these seriously endangered primates. đż Help them when you shop, go #vegan and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
This article was originally published in Mongabay and was written by Mohammad Al-Masum Molla, read the original article. Republished under Creative Commons attribution licence. Research by Ahmed, T., Hasan, S., Nath, S., Biswas, S. ⊠Roos, C. (2024). Mixed-Species Groups and Genetically Confirmed Hybridization Between Sympatric Phayreâs Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei) and Capped Langur (T. pileatus) in Northeast Bangladesh. International Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1007/s10764-024-00459-x
Bangladesh is home to less than 500 Phayreâs langurs and 600 capped langurs in the rainforests in the countryâs northeast.
A recent study has unveiled a trend of hybridisation between Phayreâs langurs and capped langurs in Bangladesh, which are listed as critically endangered and endangered, respectively, by IUCN.
Hybridisation is a vital indicator of ecological change, and researchers are raising serious concerns about the genetic health of the two species and their future existence in the wild.
The study holds human activities such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation and hunting as some of the causes responsible for increasing the risk of hybridisation cases.
A recent study revealed a troubling trend among the wild monkey population in Bangladeshâs northeastern forests. The study, conducted by the German Primate Centre, unveiled a concerning tendency of hybridisation between Phayreâs langurs (Trachypithecus phayrei) and capped langurs (Trachypithecus pileatus), listed as critically endangered and endangered, respectively, within Bangladesh by IUCN.
This hybridisation of the endangered primates, which researchers of the study say is caused by habitat loss due to deforestation and other human interferences, could push them to extinction in a few generations.
âBangladeshâs langur populations are small and isolated, limiting gene flow. This hybridisation in restricted populations heightens their extinction risk. Furthermore, our laws primarily protect pure langurs, leaving hybrids unprotected. If hybrids persist into future generations, weâll face tough decisions about their role in our ecosystem,â Tanvir Ahmed, the studyâs lead researcher, told Mongabay.
Monirul H. Khan, a professor at Jahangirnagar Universityâs Zoology Department, agreed with Tanvir and said that the significance of interbreeding is that these langurs donât survive for a long time.
âThey are usually born infertile. So the population of langur will gradually decrease,â he said.
The study, published in the International Journal of Primatology, recently found that out of 98 langur groups observed, eight comprised both Phayreâs and capped langurs.
âWe analysed genetic samples of the species in the lab and confirmed one case of hybridisation. This langur had a capped langur mother and a Phayreâs langur father. Another female with a hybrid appearance showed signs of motherhood, indicating that at least female hybrids are fertile and give birth to young,â Tanvir said.
âThe genetic characteristics of a distinct species tend to become most threatened when their hybrid females can reproduce. Fertile hybrid females threaten to bring the two species closer together as the offsprings begin to mix characteristics. That is exactly what could be happening to them,â he said.
The research shows that the âspectacledâ Phayreâs langurs and the capped langurs, with their distinctive shock of black fur on their heads, are under threat of losing their distinct genetic makeup to hybridisation.
Researchers conducted the study over five years, between 2018 and 2023, in six forests in northeastern Bangladesh â Lawachara National Park, Satchari National Park, Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajkandi Reserve Forest, Patharia Hill Reserve Forest and Atora Hill Reserve Forest.
The study involved field surveys for 92 days between March 2018 and April 2019 and from July to December 2022, employing three trained local eco-guides to monitor the mixed-species groups until October 2023. (Left) A mixed-species group of Phayreâs and capped langurs in Satchari National Park. (Right) A male hybrid of Phayreâs and capped langurs in Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. Image by Auritro Sattar. Images by Rasel Debbarma and Auritro Sattar.
Why hybridisation is a concern
The study shows that, although itâs relatively rare, hybridisation among primates is an escalating concern worldwide, often driven by habitat loss and fragmentation. It serves as a stark reminder of the significant impacts of human activity on biodiversity. The situation in Bangladesh gradually becoming more common emphasizes the urgent need for strong conservation efforts.
The study mentions how hybridisation is a vital indicator of ecological change, raising serious concerns about speciesâ genetic health. Tanvir added that this study is groundbreaking, as it documents the first hybridisation incidents among these langurs in Bangladesh and their entire distribution range.
Hybrids being fertile could lead to the extinction of the parent species. âAdditionally, mixing species can enable the spread of diseases between previously unconnected populations, posing risks to both wildlife and human health, since these animals are often hunted and traded,â said Sabit Hasan, a researcher of the study.
The study blamed human activities such as palm oil deforestation, habitat fragmentation, hunting and trapping of primates as some of the causes that can increase the risk of such hybridisation.
âThe existence of fertile hybrids is particularly alarming because it suggests that gene flow between these two endangered species could irreversibly affect their future genetic composition,â Tanvir said. The genetically confirmed hybrid with its half-sibling feeding on fruits at Satchari National Park. Image by Harish Debbarma.The genetically confirmed juvenile hybrid with its capped langur mother and Phayreâs langur father at Satchari National Park. Image by Mahmudul Bari.
Primates of Bangladesh
Ten of the 121 mammal species found in Bangladesh are primates. According to the hybridisation study, Bangladesh is home to less than 500 Phayreâs langurs and 600 capped langurs.
The Phayreâs langur has a brown to grey-brown back, white fur on its belly and face, and a âspectacledâ appearance due to wide white rings around its eyes. Its face and extremities are black, and it has long hair on its head that points backward. Additionally, its tail is longer than its body and has a tuft of dark hair at the tip.
The capped langur is known for its distinctive crown of long, erect hairs on its head. It has a black face, grey to blackish-grey fur on top, and brownish-yellow or orange fur below, with the distal half of its tail being blackish.
The study suggested the government prioritize habitat preservation and create corridors to connect isolated primate populations, facilitating natural langur dispersal.
âIf we donât take action now, we risk losing not just two monkey species but also a vital part of Bangladeshâs biodiversity,â Tanvir said. A juvenile hybrid with its Phayreâs langur father in Satchari National Park. Image by Rasel Debbarma. Banner image: The genetically confirmed hybrid (right) with its capped langur mother at Satchari National Park. Image by Harish Debbarma.
[strong]This article was originally published in Mongabay and was written by Mohammad Al-Masum Molla, read the original article. Republished under Creative Commons attribution licence. Research by Ahmed, T., Hasan, S., Nath, S., Biswas, S. ⊠Roos, C. (2024). Mixed-Species Groups and Genetically Confirmed Hybridization Between Sympatric Phayreâs Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei) and Capped Langur (T. pileatus) in Northeast Bangladesh. International Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1007/s10764-024-00459-x[/strong]
ENDS
Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture
A 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youâre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Learn about global species threatened by deforestation due to palm oil. Join Palm Oil Detectives and the #Boycott4Wildlife movement to protect wildlife and their habitats
(Left) A mixed-species group of Phayreâs and capped langurs in Satchari National Park. (Right) A male hybrid of Phayreâs and capped langurs in Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. Image by Auritro Sattar. Images by Rasel Debbarma and Auritro Sattar.
The genetically confirmed hybrid with its half-sibling feeding on fruits at Satchari National Park. Image by Harish Debbarma.
The genetically confirmed juvenile hybrid with its capped langur mother and Phayreâs langur father at Satchari National Park. Image by Mahmudul Bari.
A juvenile hybrid with its Phayreâs langur father in Satchari National Park. Image by Rasel Debbarma.
