Science, Space and Technology News 2024
Over the last two decades, extensive research in southern Africa has revealed a new ecoregion, the South East Africa Montane Archipelago , characterized by a unique biodiversity with many endemic species. Led by Professor Julian Bayliss and involving around 100 specialists, the study highlights the ecological significance of this area, the threats it faces, and the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect its unique biodiversity.
Led by Professor Julian Bayliss, a Visiting Professor at Oxford Brookes University who also works for the National Network for Community Management of Natural Resources in Mozambique, the study documents 127 plant, and 90 species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, butterflies, and freshwater crabs, all of which are endemic .
Despite being globally significant for biodiversity, the ecoregion is under severe threat. Since the scientists started their surveys around 20 years ago, the mountains have lost a fifth of their rainforest extent, nearly half in some cases — one of the highest deforestation rates in Africa. Such sites of high biodiversity and natural wilderness are increasingly rare and threatened globally.
Dr Paul Smith, Secretary General of Botanic Gardens and Conservation International and a co-author of the paper said: “The biodiversity of the SEAMA montane archipelago is of global importance, and our hope is that this publication will help to precipitate international support for conservation in the region.”
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