Floristic Diversity in the Tropics: Ensuring Sustainability of This Natural Heritage is a Matter of Life and Death: A Review

The consequences to the tropical forest ecosystem structure of man’s cultural progression from a predator to a domesticator and farmer, and the associated diffusion of agricultural concepts in the region, have of course, been profound. The conversion of tropical forests to crop land and other uses typically entails the replacement of systems rich in biodiversity with systems poor in biodiversity. We reviewed regional occurrences of floristic diversities of tropical forest on the planet and how man has led to gradual and progressive removal of the rich natural resource. Agricultural activities and timber harvest are used to discuss ways human contribute to loss of floristic diversity in the tropics. Since it is obvious that the population must usually obtain the majority of its food and other resources locally it is therefore of the utmost importance to plan a reasonable pattern of land-use to take account of present and future requirements. Thus, understanding how human activities influence the forest is a milestone in developing effective management and conservation principles.