Medium and large mammals in reduced-impact logging and conservation sites in Sierra Juárez, Oaxaca

Abstract

The reduced-impact logging system aims to minimally affect biodiversity. However, its effects on medium and large mammals’ populations have been scarcely explored. In the Sierra Juárez of Oaxaca, which has a high diversity of medium and large mammals, this management system has been implemented, which allows evaluating the impacts of this forest management on this fauna group. We studied the diversity and structure of medium and large mammals ensembles ocurring in areas with reduce-impact logging (n = 3) and conservation areas (n = 3). The results revealed that reduced-impact logging system is compatible with maintaining the structure of the ensembles of medium and large mammals. Among the factors that seem to favor this situation are the small size of the management areas and the abundant surrounding forest cover. The implementation of this system in other forest ecosystems can help to reduce the strong impact on wild mammal’s populations in areas under exploitation.