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296
Ongoing forest disturbance in Guatemala's protected areas
Eric L Bullock1, Christoph Nolte1, Ana L Reboredo Segovia1
1Department of Earth and Environment Boston University 685 Commonwealth Avenue Boston Massachusetts 02215.
Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation
|July 4, 2020
Summary
Guatemala's protected areas face significant forest disturbance, including deforestation and degradation. Satellite data reveal that these disturbances impact protected zones more than previously understood, highlighting conservation challenges.
Area of Science:
- Forestry
- Remote Sensing
- Conservation Science
Background:
- Protected areas in Guatemala are vital for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and eco-tourism.
- Many protected forests suffer from deforestation and degradation, earning them the label "paper parks".
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze forest disturbance, including deforestation and degradation, in Guatemala's protected areas from 2000 to 2017.
- To assess the extent to which protected areas are affected by human activities and natural disturbances.
Main Methods:
- Utilized time series satellite data for monitoring forest changes.
- Employed the Continuous Degradation Detection (CODED) methodology to identify forest disturbances.
- Applied sample-based statistical inference for quantitative estimations.
Main Results:
- Estimated 854,137 ha deforested and 1,012,947 ha degraded or naturally disturbed within the study period.
- Observed forest disturbance levels in protected areas varying from less than 1% to over 95% of park area.
- Found that degradation and natural disturbance affect a larger area than previously estimated.
Conclusions:
- Forest disturbance in Guatemalan protected areas is more extensive than previously realized.
- Excluding degradation and natural disturbance can lead to significant underestimation of total forest impact.
- Findings underscore the urgent need for effective forest management and conservation strategies within protected areas.
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