How are Hornbills Distributed Accross the Bukit Barisan Landscape?
The nine species of hornbills in Sumatra are critical for forest regeneration as they disperse seeds they have eaten across the landscape. In order to better understand what factors contribute to their presence and numbers, WCS carried out a hornbill population survey across the landscape. We found that the size of the forest and the amount of fig fruits, a key resource for hornbills, determined the presence and population numbers of some hornbill species. Our field data and stateof-the-art GIS technology allow us to track the loss of critical hornbill habitats from the 1980s and understand their population status. Through these analyses, we are able to direct future hornbill conservation efforts.
