Contents

#### **Preface XI**



Preface

est managers across the globe.

Tropical forests occupy only one-tenth of the world's land area but are home to more than half of the world's flora and fauna. They comprise extremely complex labyrinth of ecological interactions. In the last few decades, their astounding richness and biodiversity are rapidly dwindling as they are deforested, fragmented, burned, logged, and converted to agricultural lands and pastures, and their forest products are being indiscriminately extracted at an alarming rate. The destruction of plants, animals, soil, and ultimately the global biodiversi‐

There is a fear that the burgeoning human population and industrialization of developing countries, where a majority of these tropical forests are found, may lead to the clearing or modification or may be a complete disappearance of the remaining tropical forests within few decades. Of the 25 "hot spots" that are identified across the globe, 19 have human populations growing more rapidly than ever across the earth's surface. Vital biogeochemical cycles of car‐ bon, phosphorus, nitrogen, and so on have been severely altered and have led to the change in global climate and pristine natural ecosystems. Hence, there is an urgent need to protect, re‐

In this second edition of the book *Tropical Forests*, the chapters differ noticeably in the geo‐ graphic focus, diverse ecosystems, time, and approach; they share the above issues and help in understanding, educating, and creating awareness on the role of "tropical forests" for the very survival of mankind, climate change, and the diversity of biota across the globe. We truly believe that the readers will appreciate the contributions each of the researchers has made and will recognize the value of each chapter. We also hope that this book will be of great use to students, scientists, ecologists, population and conservation biologists, and for‐

> **Dr. Padmini Sudarshana** Monsanto Research Center Hebbal, Bangalore, India

> > Department of Biology

Department of Entomology

**Dr. Jaya R. Soneji**

**Dr. Madhugiri Nageswara-Rao**

New Mexico State University, USA

Plant Pathology and Weed Science New Mexico State University, USA

ty, due to the clearance of these tropical forests, has not been taken into account.

store, conserve, and improve the forest resources before they are irrevocably lost.
