Improved estimates of forest cover and loss in the Brazilian Amazon in 2000–2017

Yuanwei Qin, Xiangming Xiao (), Jinwei Dong (), Yao Zhang, Xiaocui Wu, Yosio Shimabukuro, Egidio Arai, Chandrashekhar Biradar, Jie Wang, Zhenhua Zou, Fang Liu, Zheng Shi, Russell Doughty and Berrien Moore
Additional contact information
Yuanwei Qin: University of Oklahoma
Xiangming Xiao: University of Oklahoma
Jinwei Dong: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yao Zhang: University of Oklahoma
Xiaocui Wu: University of Oklahoma
Yosio Shimabukuro: Brazilian National Institute for Space Research
Egidio Arai: Brazilian National Institute for Space Research
Chandrashekhar Biradar: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas
Jie Wang: University of Oklahoma
Zhenhua Zou: University of Oklahoma
Fang Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zheng Shi: University of Oklahoma
Russell Doughty: University of Oklahoma
Berrien Moore: University of Oklahoma

Nature Sustainability, 2019, vol. 2, issue 8, 764-772

Abstract: Abstract The data, information and knowledge on the tropical forest area and its dynamics in the Brazilian Amazon remain contentious. We use time-series satellite images to quantify annual forest area, loss and gain in the Brazilian Amazon during 2000–2017. We find that forest area was ~15% higher than the estimate by the official Brazilian forest dataset (PRODES), but annual forest-loss rates were twice the PRODES estimates (~0.027 × 106 km2 yr–1 during 2001–2016). Forest-loss rates increased again after 2013. The El Niño and drought year (2015/2016) drove large forest area loss. The cumulative forest-loss area within the protected areas (which include ~50% of forests in the region) was ~11% of the total forest-loss area, which highlights the roles of protected areas in forest conservation.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0336-9

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