Publications – Page 8

Publication update 4: What will it take to save the Sumatran Rhino?

Now Or Never — click image to download paper. Copyright notice: Cambridge University Press

We’re sure many of you know that one of the world’s most magnificent and docile creatures, the Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), is in deep trouble.

But just how bad is it? From a population of around 320 estimated in 1995, experts now say it could be down to as low as 216 individuals.

One of Rimba’s researchers, Reuben, was involved in a review published recently in the international journal Oryx. This paper was led by Ahmad Zafir Abdul Wahab (currently doing his PhD based at Universiti Sains Malaysia; ahmad.zafir@gmail.com) to find out what needs to be done to save this species from extinction. The consensus is that: Continue reading →

May 9, 2011March 12, 2013 by Rimba Categories: Home, PublicationsTags: Ahmad Zafir Abdul Wahab, Bukit Barisan Selatan, conservation, Danum, Gunung Leuser, International Rhino Foundation, James Cook University, Junaidi Payne, Malaysia, Oryx, Reuben Clements, rhino, SAFE index, Sumatra, Sumatran rhinoceros, Tabin, Taman Negara, Universiti Malaya, Way Kambas, WWF, WWF-Malaysia 1 Comment

Publication update 3: The SAFE Index – what it is and what it isn’t

A conservationist’s work is all about saving endangered species. We all know that. Most of us in the business are also familiar with the IUCN Red List, which categorises species according to how threatened they are.

But have you ever wondered just how close a species really is to extinction? What does it mean exactly, when a species is endangered? And are all endangered species equally endangered? What if you had a limited amount of resources – a bit of funding here, a few members of staff there, and a whole bunch of species that need saving.

Or perhaps it all comes down to a choice between two different species. They’re both endangered. But you can’t save them both, because the resources you have simply aren’t enough. You have to choose. How do you choose? Wouldn’t you want some method to help you decide which species you should invest your resources and effort in?

This is what the SAFE Index is all about.

Continue reading →

April 12, 2011March 12, 2013 by Rimba Categories: Home, PublicationsTags: Barry Brook, conservation triage, Corey Bradshaw, endangered, extinction, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, IUCN Red List, mammal, minimum viable population, MVP, Reuben Clements, SAFE index, Species ability to forestall extinction, William Laurance 1 Comment

Publication update 2: Megafauna and their megagardening work!

More publications for your reading pleasure! Here are two new articles by one of Rimba’s researchers, Ahimsa, on the importance of Asian megafauna. The first paper, ‘Megagardeners of the forest’, is being published in the journal Acta Oecologica, and reviews the important role that elephants play as ecosystem engineers shaping plant communities. The second one, ‘Big animals in a shrinking world’, was published in the Singaporean magazine Innovation, and also looks at the situation of other large herbivores. Ahimsa’s work is very important for our part of the world, because these big beasts of tropical Asia have a huge influence on the structure and composition of our precious dipterocarp forests, yet we still don’t understand the complete picture – and we’re losing our forests fast! Click on the images to read up more on Asia’s important megafauna:

March 15, 2011March 12, 2013 by Rimba Categories: Home, PublicationsTags: Acta Oecologia, Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, elephant, herbivore, megafauna, rhino, seed dispersal Leave a comment