The loss of biodiversity brought about irreversible consequences of gene pool depletion, which is attributed to the rapid destruction of habitats. 70% of the world’s plants and animals that live in forests are losing their habitats due to deforestation, ultimately leading to species extinction. Unique species like the Javan tiger are already extinct and many others, like the Orangutan, are gravely threatened.
According to WWF, there has been a clear correlation in Riau between the clearance of forests and declining wildlife populations, in the past 25 years.
Orangutans
As low land topical forests are prime locations for deforestation due to its ease of navigations and rich in timber sources, the Orangutan habitat in North Sumatra is being lost at an extremely high rate. To clear the land for the palm plantations, firms often set fire to these forests. Not only do the fire destroy the Orangutan habitat, but thousands of these slow-moving apes are thought to have burned to death as they were unable to escape the flames.
This species is classified as critically endangered by IUCN as well and it is considered as one of the world’s 25 most endangered primates. Only about 6,000 Sumatran Orangutans is estimated to still live in the wild as about 40% of their habitat is destroyed by the 1997 forest fires.
Source: http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sumatran-orangutan
Source: http://www.forestmountainservices.com/work/case-study-1-deforesting-in-indonesia/
Source: http://www.forestmountainservices.com/work/case-study-1-deforesting-in-indonesia/
Sumatran Elephants
Reports showed there has been a huge decline in elephant numbers – from an estimated 1,067-1,617 in 1984 to possibly as few as 210 individuals today. According to IUCN, 85% of the animal’s remaining habitat is unprotected and likely to be converted for agriculture or other purposes. As forests shrink, elephants are increasingly closer to fields and cultivated land, generating conflict with humans that often result in the death of the elephants by poisoning or capture. If this trend continues and the two largest remaining elephant forests are not protected, Riau’s wild elephant population are highly likely to face extinction.
Source: http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sumatran-elephant
Javan Tiger
The Javan tiger became extinct in the mid-1970s, as a result of the clearing of its habitat due to deforestation. Due to the large population, there was a shortage of rice to meet the needs of the growing population. Hence, more land was cleared to cultivate rice. By 1975, only 8% of the initial forest area remained, limiting the amount of food available for the tigers, and inevitably driving these Javan Tigers closer to human civilization. In addition, the Rusa deer, Javan tigers’ most important prey species, went extinct due to diseases in the 1960s. As a result, these tigers were forced to prey on farm animals and in rare cases, humans. This resulted in the eradication of these majestic creatures, which ultimately led to its extinction in the 1970s.
Source:http://tiger-animal.com/javan-tiger-the-extinct-indonesian-subspecies/
Source: http://tiger-animal.com/javan-tiger-the-extinct-indonesian-subspecies/
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The depletion of genetic information not only affects biodiversity, but also has negative impacts on medicinal research and local populations, who rely on these animals and plants for hunting and medicine.