Introduction

In Module 1, 2 and 3, you learnt that the four key management issues facing tropical rainforest and savanna ecosystems. These are:

• Clearing / deforestation – habitat and biodiversity loss in tropical rainforest
• Fire and grazing – woody thickening in savannas
• Climate change
• Loss of ecosystem services

These issues stem from human influenced activities resulting in the dramatic alteration of natural ecosystems and ecosystem processes, which ultimately lead to the loss, reduction or degradation of ecosystem services.

In order to address these specific issues and the deforestation and degradation of tropical rainforests and savanna systems in general, both the underlying drivers and damaging activities causing deforestation and degradation need to be identified and addressed.

In this module, we’ll learn about

• the primary and secondary drivers of degradation
• application of the ESS concept to help overcome this degradation
• some examples of improved management practices in tropical ecosystems

Next topic: Drivers of Degradation and Deforestation in Tropical Ecosystems