Mammalian biodiversity in logged tropical rainforest in Malaysian Borneo

In the last decades Malaysian Borneo experienced the highest rates of rainforest loss and degradation through unsustainable logging. We study how faunal biodiversity is affected by this and try to contribute to a more sustainable management of the currently used concessions.

The rapid loss and degradation of tropical rainforests is threatening biodiversity. In the last decades Malaysian Borneo experienced the highest rates of rainforest loss and degradation through unsustainable logging.

Since 2008, we work in the Deramakot Forest Reserve, a FSC certified well managed logging concession in Sabah, to investigate the impacts of reduced impact logging on mammalian communities at different spatial and temporal scales. In addition, we use systematic large-scale camera-trapping to monitor mammalian communities over time in conventionally logged forest sites in various stages of recovery.

Since 2017, we have also surveyed mixed-use forests (natural forest management with industrial tree plantation) in two logging concessions in Sarawak. Our landscape scale systematic surveys provide rigorous biodiversity assessments that allow us to monitor species-specific and community-wide trends over time. As a significant proportion of the rainforests in Malaysian Borneo are classified as production forest reserves, our research can contribute to the more sustainable management of these concessions, particularly in minimizing impacts of logging on mammal occurrence. As such, we collaborate closely with local stakeholders and engage with decision makers in order to integrate our data and results directly into the forest management.