Author Putz, F.E., Redford, K.H., Robinson, J.G., Fimbel, R. & Blate, G.M.

Year of publication 2000

Evaluate the impacts of logging on biodiversity in tropical forests is not as simple as it may seems. It depends on a thorough review of the literature abd on the best expert opinion due to the complexities hidden under the seemingly simple rubrics "logging" and "biodiversity". This paper disaggregates the term "biodiversity" into components (landscape, ecosystem, communities, species, populations and genes) and attributes (structure, composition and function). It then disaggregates "logging" by detailing the vast range of activities subsumed under this term, including variation of logging intensities, logging methods, collateral damage, and silvicultural approaches. Using the richness present in both terms, a framework for considering the impacts of logging and other forest management activities on the various components and attributes of biodiversity is presented.