This report, released September 2002 assesses the impact of infrastructural development on great ape populations, using the GLOBIO modelling approach. Using the GLOBIO spatial model, which estimates the extent of land area with reduced abundance and diversity of living organisms, the result of infrastructural development is presented. The model is also used to develop scenarios of possible future impacts, based on the current rates of infrastructural development.
Results of GLOBIO analyses indicate that more than 70% of the habitat of each of the African great ape species has been negatively affected by infrastructural development.
Future scenarios suggest that the annual loss of undisturbed habitat will be greater than 2% per year in the case of the African great apes. By 2030, the scenarios suggest that less than 10% of great ape habitat in Africa will remain free of the impacts of infrastructural development. These figures are supported by estimates of habitat loss and degradation made independently, by great ape field researchers.
Urgent action is required by the governments of great ape range states, with financial and political support from the international community, to ensure the future survival of great apes.
The full GRASP report is available below, as well as the African GRASP poster. There is more information and a poster on the Asia page. To learn more about the Great Apes Survival Project (GRASP), there is web-site at UNEP.
