Size-Based Effects of Anthropogenic Pressures and Elephant Activity on Tropical Forest Carbon Stocks
This study evaluates how forest elephant activity and human disturbances such as logging and village proximity influence aboveground carbon stocks in Gabon. Using Bayesian models across tree size classes, it shows that human pressures reduce carbon storage, while elephants enhance structural traits linked to long-term forest carbon resilience.
Subject Tags
- Carbon storage
- Forest
Abstract
This study examines how forest elephant activity and anthropogenic disturbances influence aboveground carbon (AGC) stocks in tropical forests across Gabon between 2013 and 2023. Using data from 260 one‑hectare forest plots, researchers applied Bayesian modelling to assess how logging, secondary forest conversion, and proximity to villages affect forest carbon storage through changes in stand structure, including basal area, tree height, and wood density. Impacts were evaluated across three tree size classes (small, medium, and large) to reveal size‑dependent responses that are often masked in whole‑plot analyses. Results show that human disturbances are strongly associated with reductions in AGC, driven by declines in structural attributes, particularly near villages and in converted forests. In contrast, elephant activity was linked to increases in wood density among small and medium trees, suggesting long‑term contributions to carbon‑dense forest composition. The findings highlight that elephants and human pressures influence forest carbon through distinct pathways and underscore the importance of integrating wildlife conservation with forest management to sustain tropical carbon stocks under ongoing environmental change.
Citation
Gupta, A., DeSisto, C., Iponga, D. M., Ngomanda, A., Maicher, V., Malinowski, H., & Poulsen, J. R. (2026). Size‐Based Effects of Anthropogenic Pressures and Elephant Activity on Tropical Forest Carbon Stocks. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 35(3), e70207.
TNC Authors
-
John R. Poulsen
Global Director of Science Capacity/Deputy Director of One Conservancy Science
The Nature Conservancy
Email: john.poulsen@tnc.org -
Vincent Maicher
The Nature Conservancy