Humid tropical forest clearing from 2000 to 2005 quantified by using multitemporal and multiresolution remotely
Matthew C Hansen1, Stephen V Stehman, Peter V Potapov
1South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA.
Summary
Humid tropical forest clearing from 2000-2005 was estimated using satellite data. This study quantifies forest loss, identifying hotspots and major contributing countries like Brazil and Indonesia.
Area of Science:
- Sustainability Science
- Environmental Monitoring
- Remote Sensing
Background:
- Forest cover is crucial for carbon stocks, climate, hydrology, and biodiversity.
- Accurate global forest trends are not well understood.
- Timely forest monitoring is essential for informed policy decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a cost-effective monitoring strategy for precise forest clearing estimates in the humid tropics.
- To quantify humid tropical forest clearing between 2000 and 2005.
Main Methods:
- Employed a probability-based sampling approach.
- Synergistically utilized low and high spatial resolution satellite datasets.
- Focused on quantifying forest clearing within the humid tropics from 2000 to 2005.
Main Results:
- An estimated 1.39% of the total humid tropical biome area was cleared (27.2 million hectares).
- This represents a 2.36% reduction in humid tropical forest area.
- Fifty-five percent of clearing occurred in only 6% of the biome, indicating significant hotspots. Brazil and Indonesia were the largest contributors.
Conclusions:
- The developed monitoring strategy provides timely and precise estimates of forest clearing.
- Identified forest clearing hotspots and regional contributions are critical for conservation efforts.
- Policy responses can now be informed by accurate data on humid tropical forest cover change.
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