Hkakabo Razi landscape as one of the last exemplar of large contiguous forests

Marcela Suarez-Rubio,Swen C Renner,Grant Connette,Thein Aung,Myint Kyaw

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-70917-y

Abstract

Deforestation and forest degradation around the world endanger the functioning of ecosystems, climate stability, and conservation of biodiversity. We assessed the spatial and temporal dynamics of forest cover in Myanmar’s Hkakabo Razi Landscape (HRL) to determine its integrity based on forest change and fragmentation patterns from 1989 to 2016. Over 80% of the HRL was covered by natural areas, from which forest was the most prevalent (around 60%). Between 1989 and 2016, forest cover declined at an annual rate of 0.225%. Forest degradation occurred mainly around the larger plains of Putao and Naung Mung, areas with relatively high human activity. Although the rate of forest interior loss was approximately 2 to 3 times larger than the rate of total forest loss, forest interior was prevalent with little fragmentation. Physical and environmental variables were the main predictors of either remaining in the current land-cover class or transitioning to another class, although remaining in the current land cover was more likely than land conversion. The forests of the HRL have experienced low human impact and still constitute large tracts of contiguous forest interior. To ensure the protection of these large tracts of forest, sustainable forest policies and management should be implemented.

Highlights

Expansion and infrastructure development are the most common causes of forest loss[21]
Because intact forest canopies in the Hkakabo Razi Landscape (HRL) are mostly c losed[16], we considered reduced canopy cover to be an indication of degradation
Over 80% of the HRL is covered by natural areas, from which forest is the most prevalent land cover

Summary

Introduction

Expansion and infrastructure development are the most common causes of forest loss[21]. Areas previously inaccessible are starting to open up for systematic, largescale resource extraction, timber production, commercial plantations (MOECAF 2011) and extensive tourism[44] as a way to achieve economic growth. Given these rapid developments, assessing the current forest distribution and quantifying the extent of forest loss and degradation in the HRL are required to understand the effects economic and development changes are having on this region, and to develop strategies for sustainable land management. We identified major spatial predictors of forest change Through this assessment, we aim to determine whether the forests of the HRL are still of high integrity[45]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion