The article "Anthropogenic disturbance in tropical forests can double biodiversity loss from deforestation" published in Nature in June 2016, highlights the significant impact of anthropogenic disturbances on biodiversity in tropical forests. The study, conducted in the Amazonian state of Pará, Brazil, found that disturbances such as selective logging and wildfires can reduce the conservation value of primary forests by up to 96-171% more than deforestation alone. The authors used a comprehensive dataset of plants, birds, and dung beetles to estimate the combined effect of landscape and within-forest disturbances on biodiversity. They found that catchments retaining more than 69-80% of their forest cover experienced a greater loss of conservation value from disturbances compared to deforestation. The study also revealed that disturbances outside strictly protected areas are equivalent to the loss of 92,000-139,000 km² of primary forest, which is greater than the area deforested across the entire Brazilian Amazon between 2006 and 2015. Species distribution models showed that both landscape and within-forest disturbances contribute substantially to biodiversity loss, with the greatest negative effects on species of high conservation and functional value. The findings underscore the urgent need for policies that address forest disturbances in addition to deforestation to safeguard the hyper-diversity of tropical forest ecosystems.The article "Anthropogenic disturbance in tropical forests can double biodiversity loss from deforestation" published in Nature in June 2016, highlights the significant impact of anthropogenic disturbances on biodiversity in tropical forests. The study, conducted in the Amazonian state of Pará, Brazil, found that disturbances such as selective logging and wildfires can reduce the conservation value of primary forests by up to 96-171% more than deforestation alone. The authors used a comprehensive dataset of plants, birds, and dung beetles to estimate the combined effect of landscape and within-forest disturbances on biodiversity. They found that catchments retaining more than 69-80% of their forest cover experienced a greater loss of conservation value from disturbances compared to deforestation. The study also revealed that disturbances outside strictly protected areas are equivalent to the loss of 92,000-139,000 km² of primary forest, which is greater than the area deforested across the entire Brazilian Amazon between 2006 and 2015. Species distribution models showed that both landscape and within-forest disturbances contribute substantially to biodiversity loss, with the greatest negative effects on species of high conservation and functional value. The findings underscore the urgent need for policies that address forest disturbances in addition to deforestation to safeguard the hyper-diversity of tropical forest ecosystems.