Deforestation, forest degradation, and land use dynamics in the Northeastern Ecuadorian Amazon

Abstract

Land cover transformations throughout the Amazon basin have significantly intensified in recent decades due to increased human activity. Using a land change science approach, combining remotely sensed data, field observations, and multinomial regression analysis, this article evaluates deforestation and forest degradation between 2013 and 2019 in the Northeastern Ecuadorian Amazon. Results show that the likelihood of deforestation is associated with proximity to markets and population centers, distance to main roads and waterways, road density, population density, and terrain conditions. The study suggests that although deforestation rates have remained relatively unchanged, or even decreased in comparison to the early 2000s, the fragmentation of secondary forests due to the expansion of African palm cultivation and other forms of agriculture is an issue of concern. The information presented in this study may assist decision makers in planning local and geolocated interventions that directly respond to the socio-environmental contexts of Amazonian communities.