Biophysical and Socioeconomic Factors Associated to Deforestation and Forest Recovery in Brazilian Tropical Dry Forests

Abstract

The determination of land cover changes (LCCs) and their association to biophysical and socioeconomic factors is vital to support government policies toward the sustainable use of natural resources. The present study aimed to quantify deforestation, forest recovery and net cover change in tropical dry forests (TDFs) in Brazil from 2007 to 2016, and investigate how they are associated to biophysical and socioeconomic factors. We also assessed the effects of LCC variables in human welfare indicators. For this purpose, we used MODIS imagery to calculate TDF gross loss (deforestation), gross gain (forest recovery) and net cover change (the balance between deforestation and forest recovery) for 294 counties in three Brazilian states (Minas Gerais, Bahia, and Piauí). We obtained seven factors potentially associated to LCC at the county level: total county area, road density, humidity index, slope, elevation, and % change in human population and in cattle density. From 2007 to 2016, TDF cover increased from 76,693 to 80,964 km2 (+5.6%). This positive net change resulted from a remarkable forest recovery of 19,018 km2 (24.8%), offsetting a large deforested area (14,748 km2; 19.2%). Practically all these cover changes were a consequence of transitions from TDF to pastures and vice-versa, highlighting the importance of developing sustainable policies for cattle raising in TDF regions. Each LCC variable was associated to different set of factors, but two biophysical variables were significantly associated both to TDF area gained and lost per county: county area (positively) and slope (negatively), indicating that large and flat counties have very dynamic LCCs. The TDF net area change was only associated (negatively) to the humidity index, reflecting an increase in TDF cover in more arid counties. The net increase in Brazilian TDF area is likely a result from an interplay of biophysical and socioeconomic factors that reduced deforestation and caused pasture abandonment. Although the ecological integrity and permanence of secondary TDFs need further investigation, the recovery of this semi-arid ecosystem must be valued and accounted for in the national forest restoration programs, as it would significantly help achieving the goals established in the Bonn agreement and the Atlantic Rain Forest pact.

Surface temperature behavior in view of the conversion of tropical dry forest into anthropic uses, northern Minas Gerais–Brazil

“…Changes in the land use and land cover context for the domain of TDFs have been reported by several authors [ 23 , 24 , 36 ]. Dupin et al [ 23 ] indicated that between 2000 and 2015 there was a net loss in the order of 3302 km 2 .…”

Remote sensing for monitoring tropical dryland forests: a review of current research, knowledge gaps and future directions for Southern Africa

“…The dryland forests in other parts of the world like Latin America are increasingly well studied at local, regional, national and continental scale, particularly with regards to carbon/biomass approaches (e.g., sustainable intensification for protected/conservation areas) (Méndez et al 2007, Reynolds et al 2016 and has the most comprehensive forest change/deforestation and biophysical aspects including species population changes, with extensive use of remote sensing (Trejo and Dirzo 2000, Gasparri and Grau 2009, Portillo-Quintero et al 2012, do Espírito-Santo et al 2020. In terms of reviews, many remote sensing reviews are providing valuable information on TDF's biophysical, ecological and socioeconomic at a regional level of Latin America (Castro et Also, reviews of current progress on dryland forests in individual countries can be found in many neotropics countries such as Mexico (Castillo et al 2005, Curry 2020), Venezuela (Fajardo et al 2005, Rodríguez et al 2008, and Costa Rica (Frankie et al 2004, Stoner et al 2004 enabling the identification of knowledge gaps and aiding in the development of a policy-relevant approach to conservation of these forests (Miles et al 2006).…”

Direct seeding as a recruitment alternative for the threatened tropical palm Syagrus coronata (Mart.) Beccari in Brazilian dry forest

“…Tropical ecosystems have undergone intense deforestation due to human activities (Silva and Barbosa, 2017;Espírito-Santo et al, 2020;Souza and Reis, 2020). Changes in land cover and use lead to a decrease in biodiversity, compromising ecological regulatory services such as pollination, seed dispersal and biological control (Silva et al, 2020).…”

“…Ecological restoration emerges as an important alternative to mitigate part of the negative impacts resulting from human actions (Espírito-Santo et al, 2020;Raupp et al, 2020). The Brazilian Caatinga is the largest remnant of tropical dry forest in South America, which has more than 60% of its area occupied by anthropogenic ecosystems and demand urgent ecological restoration actions (Silva and Barbosa, 2017;.…”

“…The loss of area in this ecosystem is mostly due to the removal of vegetation for the croplands (Souza and Reis, 2020), opening of pastures for livestock (Raupp et al, 2020), hunting and logging, causing intensive and extensive disturbances . This entire process leaves a legacy that in some cases can delay the natural regeneration of the ecosystem (Palma and Laurance, 2015;Espírito-Santo et al, 2020). There are different restoration techniques whose efficiency varies depending on the potential of the landscape site (Raupp et al, 2020).…”