Abstract
Remotely sensed maps of global forest extent are widely used for conservation assessment and planning. Yet, there is increasing recognition that these efforts must now include elements of forest quality for biodiversity and ecosystem services. Such data are not yet available globally. Here we introduce two data products, the Forest Structural Condition Index (SCI) and the Forest Structural Integrity Index (FSII), to meet this need for the humid tropics. The SCI integrates canopy height, tree cover, and time since disturbance to distinguish short, open-canopy, or recently deforested stands from tall, closed-canopy, older stands typical of primary forest. The SCI was validated against estimates of foliage height diversity derived from airborne lidar. The FSII overlays a global index of human pressure on SCI to identify structurally complex forests with low human pressure, likely the most valuable for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services. These products represent an important step in maturation from conservation focus on forest extent to forest stands that should be considered “best of the last” in international policy settings.
Highlights
Background & SummaryThe value of forests for biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being is well established[1,2]
The global earth observation community has called for the integration of such metrics into Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) that distinguish the ecological quality of forests with regards to ecosystem structure, function, and composition[3]
Our maps of Structural Condition Index (SCI) are the first to identify locations in the humid tropics of tall, dense forests resulting from high biophysical potential and low disturbance rates
Summary
The value of forests for biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being is well established[1,2]. The global earth observation community has called for the integration of such metrics into Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) that distinguish the ecological quality of forests with regards to ecosystem structure, function, and composition[3]. The Forest Structural Condition Index (SCI) quantifies canopy stature, cover and disturbance history across the humid tropics. Our maps of SCI are the first to identify locations in the humid tropics of tall, dense forests resulting from high biophysical potential and low disturbance rates. We overlay the updated human footprint[6] on the SCI to derive the Forest Structural Integrity Index (FSII). Forests of high structural integrity are relatively tall, high in canopy cover, older, and with relatively low human pressure. By intersecting structural condition with human pressure, the FSII identifies the subset of forests that are likely high in quality for biodiversity and production of ecosystem services. Stands of high FSII represent “the best of the last” and represent an important subset of remaining forests that are especially important for conservation planning
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