Threatened subtropical wet forest habitats

Nature

Threatened subtropical wet forest habitats are biodiverse ecosystems characterized by high rainfall and warm temperatures, found in regions between the tropics and temperate zones. These forests face significant threats from deforestation, agricultural expansion, urbanization, and climate change, leading to habitat loss, fragmentation, and declining species populations. The degradation of subtropical wet forests disrupts ecological processes, reduces carbon sequestration, and endangers countless plant and animal species, many of which are endemic or rare. Conservation efforts are critical to preserving these habitats, maintaining biodiversity, and supporting ecosystem services vital to both local communities and global environmental health.

Background

According to Holdridge's system of ecological zones, subtropical wet forest has a mean annual temperature of 18-24 and an average annual rainfall of 2,000-4,000 mm.

Incidence

Subtropical wet forest habitats are experiencing significant decline worldwide, with extensive losses reported in regions such as Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and parts of Africa. These forests, which once covered vast areas, are now fragmented and degraded due to agricultural expansion, logging, and urbanization. The rapid reduction in habitat area has led to severe biodiversity loss and disruption of ecological processes, making the issue a matter of global environmental concern.
In 2022, the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, a key subtropical wet forest, lost over 20,000 hectares to illegal deforestation, according to the SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation (https://www.sosma.org.br/).