New findings uncovered by researchers at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the University of Queensland (UQ) demonstrate that logging activity in Solomon Islands is associated with lower coral cover and structural complexity on adjacent reefs, as well as lower abundance of many types of fish commonly caught for food and sold at markets.
The study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology focused on Kolombangara, an island located in Western Province, Solomon Islands, and used cutting-edge methods for tracking soil erosion and sediment runoff from land to pinpoint areas where historically healthy reefs may have been negatively impacted by clear-cutting and deforestation. The maps that scientists generated also helped them identify currently healthy coral reefs that are at risk of impact should deforestation in sensitive areas continue on the island.
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