Satellite Change Detection Analysis of Deforestation Rates and Patterns along the Colombia – Ecuador Border

Abstract

This study uses Landsat satellite data to document the rates and patterns of land-cover change along a portion of the Colombia-Ecuador border during a 23-yr period (1973-1996). Human colonization has resulted in extensive deforestation in both countries. Satellite change detection analysis showed that the annual rates of deforestation were considerably higher for the Colombian side of the border. In addition, loss of forest cover on the Colombian side for the study period was almost 43%, while only 22% on the Ecuadorian side. The study found that there is no single factor driving deforestation on either side of the border, but concluded that the higher rates on the Colombian side may be due to higher colonization pressures and intensification of illegal coca cultivation. On the Ecuador side of the border the satellite images documented patterns of deforestation that reflected road networks associated with oil exploration and development.

Effects of Natural Disasters on Conservation Policies: The Case of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, China

“…Human population density was positively related with the probability of forest loss while negatively related with the probability of forest recovery. As human population density constitutes a measure of the influence of humans on forests, this result agrees with other studies showing human influence to be associated with higher deforestation rates and lower forest recovery rates (Viña and Cavelier 1999;DeFries et al 2004;Viña et al 2004;Crk et al 2009). Distance to the forest edge was negatively related with the probability of both forest loss and recovery.…”

Targeted carbon conservation at national scales with high-resolution monitoring

“…These concessions currently hold high carbon densities, averaging 93-105 Mg C ha −1 , and a massive total aboveground carbon stock of 1.92 Pg (Table 1). Carbon losses from these concessions will vary based on the intensity of oil or timber extraction; however, recent studies suggest that road building and forest access generate at least a 30% decrease in carbon stock per hectare, but with high spatial variance (17,25,26). Applying this percentage loss to these concessions, ∼0.58 Pg C is at imminent risk for emission from oil and logging in the high-carbon density Amazonian lowlands.…”

Analysis of deforestation patterns in the central Menabe, Madagascar, between 1973 and 2010

“…Nelson and Horning 1993;Viña et al 2004;Vågen 2006;Duveiller et al 2008;Hansen et al 2008). With the opening of the Landsat 7 archive by the US Geological Service (USGS) in January 2009, a wide array of satellite scenes became available.…”