Conservation Biology special issue
December 07, 2009
Results from the debate on the future of tropical species
Conservation Biology (December) dedicated a section to publish eight papers resulting from a debate originated at STRI between staff scientists S. Joseph Wright and Hellene Muller-Landau and William F. Laurance (also with James Cook University, in Cairs, Australia). The debate focuses on two opposing views of the tropical extinction crisis. While many scientists claim that as much as 50-75% of all tropical species could vanish by the end of the century, Wright and Muller-Landau used estimates of future population growth and urbanization trends to suggest that increasing forest regeneration would help to buffer species losses in the tropics. The papers, already distributed by the “Science Sendings” by Neal Smith, are listed in the left-hand column on page 4 of this newsletter.
This debate has taken place in scientific journals and several events, including a symposium in Morelia, Mexico in 2007, a workshop and symposium in Panama in 2008, and a public debate in Washington DC, in January, 2009. This special section of Conservation Biology, "New Insights into the Tropical Biodiversity Crisis," as well as the related workshop and symposia, were made possible through the support of SI, the Science Committee of the Smithsonian National Board, and the Frank Levinson Family Foundation with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
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