Assessment of the CLASlite forest monitoring system in detecting disturbance from selective logging in the Selva Maya, Mexico

Abstract

Detecting and monitoring forest disturbance from selective logging is necessary to develop effective strategies and polices that conserve tropical forests and mitigate climate change. We assessed the potential of using the remote sensing tool, CLASlite forest monitoring system, to detect disturbance from timber harvesting in four community forests () of the Selva Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Selective logging impacts (e.g. felling gaps, skid trails, logging roads and log landings) were mapped using GPS in the 2014 annual cutting areas (ACAs) of each ejido. We processed and analyzed two pre-harvest Landsat images (2001 and 2013) and one post-harvest image (November 2014) with the CLASlite system, producing maps of degraded, deforested and unlogged areas in each ACA. Based on reference points of disturbed (felling and skidding), deforested (log landings and roads) and unlogged areas in each ACA, we applied accuracy assessments which showed very low overall accuracies (<19.1%). Selective logging impacts, mainly from log landings and new logging road construction, were detected in only one ejido which had the highest logging intensity (7 m ha).ejidos3–1

Selective logging and shifting agriculture may help maintain forest biomass on the Yucatán peninsula

“…Selective logging at low intensities has been challenging to detect using satellite data; for example, vegetation indices from LANDSAT images, Hernández‐Gómez et al (2019) were only able to detect logging roads and log landings yet impacts from felling and skidding were not accurately identified; however, detection improved with increased logging intensity (e.g., Noh Bec and Petcacab). Rapid forest biomass recovery after low intensity selective logging (Asner et al, 2004; West et al, 2014), in addition to the relatively small proportion of areas accessed for felling in ACAs of the region (Putz et al, 2019), are likely responsible for maintaining AGB within ACAs in the landscape.…”