Mapping and quantifying land cover dynamics using dense remote sensing time series with the user-friendly pyNITA software

Alonzo, Michael; Hoek, Jamon Van Den; Murillo-Sandoval, Paulo J.; Steger, Cara; Zinda, John Aloysius

doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2021.105179

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Omission errors have been reported by SIMCI caused by human interpretation in coca detection and by persistent cloud cover 34 , as well as discrepancies with other data sources such as the Office of National Drug Control Policy 35 . Consequently, identifying illicit cattle ranching and coca cultivation with available remote sensing imagery remains a significant challenge across Latin America 9 , 36 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The post-conflict expansion of coca farming and illicit cattle ranching in Colombia

Murillo-Sandoval

Kilbride

Tellman

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Illicit cattle ranching and coca farming have serious negative consequences on the Colombian Amazon’s land systems. The underlying causes of these land activities include historical processes of colonization, armed conflict, and narco-trafficking. We aim to examine how illicit cattle ranching and coca farming are driving forest cover change over the last 34 years (1985–2019). To achieve this aim, we combine two pixel-based approaches to differentiate between coca farming and cattle ranching using hypothetical observed patterns of illicit activities and a deep learning algorithm. We found evidence that cattle ranching, not coca, is the main driver of forest loss outside the legal agricultural frontier. There is evidence of a recent, explosive conversion of forests to cattle ranching outside the agricultural frontier and within protected areas since the negotiation phase of the peace agreement. In contrast, coca is remarkably persistent, suggesting that crop substitution programs have been ineffective at stopping the expansion of coca farming deeper into protected areas. Countering common narratives, we found very little evidence that coca farming precedes cattle ranching. The spatiotemporal dynamics of the expansion of illicit land uses reflect the cumulative outcome of agrarian policies, Colombia’s War on Drugs, and the 2016 peace accord. Our study enables the differentiation of illicit land activities, which can be transferred to other regions where these activities have been documented but poorly distinguished spatiotemporally. We provide an applied framework that could be used elsewhere to disentangle other illicit land uses, track their causes, and develop management options for forested land systems and people who depend on them.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The post-conflict expansion of coca farming and illicit cattle ranching in Colombia

Murillo-Sandoval

Kilbride

Tellman

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

Self Cite

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“…Satellite data and change detection algorithms are more frequent and remarkably effective in identifying forest disturbance (i.e., deforestation and degradation) (Alonzo et al, 2021; DeVries et al, 2015; Kennedy et al, 2010; Zhu & Woodcock, 2014). Using subannual change detection algorithms (Murillo‐Sandoval et al, 2022), we found that disturbance rates were lower when the Colombian armed conflict was intense.…”

Section: Subannual Forest Disturbancesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disentangling the landscape during armed conflicts and postpeace agreements: Clues from Colombia's Andes‐Amazon region

Murillo-Sandoval

2022

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

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This article is part of the special series "Consequences of Modern Warfare on Ecology and the Environment." The series presents a collection of views from global experts on the broad environmental science and policy challenges raised by ecocide as a result of war, providing data-driven, science-based insights that inform our understanding of the environmental impacts of war, and how they may be documented, characterized, and responded to.

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Examples of Remote Sensing Applications of Big Data Analytics—Land Cover Time Series Creation

2023

Springer Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry

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Mapping and quantifying land cover dynamics using dense remote sensing time series with the user-friendly pyNITA software

Cited by 6 publications

References 67 publications

The post-conflict expansion of coca farming and illicit cattle ranching in Colombia

The post-conflict expansion of coca farming and illicit cattle ranching in Colombia

Disentangling the landscape during armed conflicts and postpeace agreements: Clues from Colombia's Andes‐Amazon region

Examples of Remote Sensing Applications of Big Data Analytics—Land Cover Time Series Creation

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