Forest logging and species population trends in the Southwest region

The bar chart illustrates the amount of forest land logged in the Southwest region over a twenty-year period, while the table provides data on the number of mammals, birds, and amphibians living in that area between 1998 and 2008.

Overall, there is a clear inverse relationship between the expansion of logging activities and the survival of forest-dwelling species. While logging increased steadily throughout the period, the populations of all three animal groups saw a continuous downward trend.

Regarding the forest area, 75,000 acres were logged in 1990. This figure rose to 100,000 acres by 1995 and reached 150,000 acres in 2000. By 2010, the total area logged had tripled compared to the 1990 figure, standing at 225,000 acres.

In contrast, species numbers declined across the board. Birds were the most populous group in 1998 with 27 species, but this number dropped sharply to 15 by 2002 and further to 11 by 2008. Similarly, mammals decreased from 13 to 7 over the decade, while amphibians saw a more gradual decline from 15 to 9 species during the same timeframe.