Everyone is aware of the huge areas of tropical forest that have been cleared in the Amazon a. However, clearcutting of forests is most serious in southern Asia, Indonesia, Russia, North America, and West Africa b. Clearcutting is done for timber and to create space for crops and cattle 2. Habitat loss also occurs due to increasing development a. In the U.S., land is being lost most rapidly in the western states 3.
Fragmentation is also important a.
As land is chopped up, populations become isolated from other populations b. In this fashion, migratory pathways are lost and populations effectively become smaller 4. The most productive aquatic habitats are estuaries a. These are also most desirable for development 5. Coral reefs are the most productive marine habitat a.