Proximate and Underlying Deforestation Causes in a Tropical Basin through Specialized Consultation and Spatial Logistic Regression Modeling

Abstract

The present study focuses on identifying and describing the possible proximate and underlying causes of deforestation and its factors using the combination of two techniques: (1) specialized consultation and (2) spatial logistic regression modeling. These techniques were implemented to characterize the deforestation process qualitatively and quantitatively, and then to graphically represent the deforestation process from a temporal and spatial point of view. The study area is the North Pacific Basin, Mexico, from 2002 to 2014. The map difference technique was used to obtain deforestation using the land-use and vegetation maps. A survey was carried out to identify the possible proximate and underlying causes of deforestation, with the aid of 44 specialized government officials, researchers, and people who live in the surrounding deforested areas. The results indicated total deforestation of 3,938.77 km2 in the study area. The most important proximate deforestation causes were agricultural expansion (53.42%), infrastructure extension (20.21%), and wood extraction (16.17%), and the most important underlying causes were demographic factors (34.85%), economics factors (29.26%), and policy and institutional factors (22.59%). Based on the spatial logistic regression model, the factors with the highest statistical significance were forestry productivity, the slope, the altitude, the distance from population centers with fewer than 2500 inhabitants, the distance from farming areas, and the distance from natural protected areas.

Apakah Urbanisasi Cepat dan Pertumbuhan Ekonomi Menyebabkan Deforestasi? Studi Empiris di Indonesia

“…Untuk konteks degradasi hutan, urbanisasi dipertimbangkan sebagai penyebab tidak langsung deforestasi (underlying causes) untuk sub dimensi ekonomi (Plata-Rocha et al, 2021). Urbanisasi menekan sumber daya hutan melalui dua jalur utama.…”

From chains to chainsaws: Modern slavery and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon

“…Deforestation has been studied exhaustively and academics have separated its proximate and underlying determinants (Armenteras et al, 2017). The proximate determinants of deforestation are cattle ranching, agricultural expansion, logging, infrastructure building and land grabbing (Araujo et al, 2009; Armenteras et al, 2017; Betts et al, 2008; Bos et al, 2020; Fearnside, 2008; Geist and Lambin, 2002; Kaimowitz and Angelsen, 1998; Kissinger et al, 2012; Plata-Rocha et al, 2021). Whilst underlying determinants entail market growth, economic globalisation, poor governance and pro-deforestation policy (Araujo et al, 2009; Armenteras et al, 2017; Geist and Lambin, 2002; Kaimowitz and Angelsen, 1998; Kissinger et al, 2012; Plata-Rocha et al, 2021).…”

“…The proximate determinants of deforestation are cattle ranching, agricultural expansion, logging, infrastructure building and land grabbing (Araujo et al, 2009; Armenteras et al, 2017; Betts et al, 2008; Bos et al, 2020; Fearnside, 2008; Geist and Lambin, 2002; Kaimowitz and Angelsen, 1998; Kissinger et al, 2012; Plata-Rocha et al, 2021). Whilst underlying determinants entail market growth, economic globalisation, poor governance and pro-deforestation policy (Araujo et al, 2009; Armenteras et al, 2017; Geist and Lambin, 2002; Kaimowitz and Angelsen, 1998; Kissinger et al, 2012; Plata-Rocha et al, 2021). It is noteworthy that these proximate determinants of deforestation overlap with the sectors associated with slavery, further evidencing a slavery-deforestation nexus in Brazil.…”

Geospatial Simulation Model of Sustainable Mangrove Development Scenarios for the Years 2030 and 2050 in Marismas Nacionales, Mexico

“…The importance value of each factor was assigned utilizing a bibliographic analysis and an opinion survey applied to experts in the field (academics, government, private sector, non-governmental organizations, fishing sector of the study area [52]) on "The causes of deforestation and degradation of the mangrove forest in MN", as proposed by the authors of [53].…”