Eavesdropping on the Sounds of a Rainforest
CBC Radio | Posted: January 29, 2016 8:56 PM | Last Updated: January 29, 2016
Using the rich soundscapes of the rainforest to understand ecosystem health.
The rainforests of Papua New Guinea are known for their rich biodiversity. But with the growth of the country's population, those forests have been diminished by logging, as well as the need for local landowners to increase the size of their gardens.
In order to better understand the impact deforestation is having on wildlife, the Nature Conservancy - a charitable environmental organization - took a novel approach to managing and protecting such challenging and sometimes inhospitable terrain.
Dr. Eddie Game, from the group's Asia Pacific branch in Brisbane, Australia, recorded the sound of the forest, 24 hours a day, for several consecutive days. The long and complex soundscapes were then analysed for the purpose of comparing known healthy forests to those degraded by deforestation.
Related Links