Deforestation Process Research Articles

Business Plan for the Creation of an Eco-Recreational Park in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico

Objective: Propose a business plan for the creation of an eco-recreational park in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, specifically located in Cerro del Lobo for the recovery of the forest, containing the deforestation process, as well as the creation of an ecological park. That provides education and awareness of ecological environmental values to the residents and visitors of the region. Theoretical Framework: As a theoretical reference from the literature, various models and methodologies for the creation of a business plan were consulted, as well as the opinion of experts, including that of a university professor specialized in the subject of business plans. Likewise, primary and secondary sources were consulted to analyze the general characteristics of the region and serve as a guide for the development of the proposed plan. Method: The study adopted for this research is a combination of methodologies proposed for the creation of a business plan and includes the complete process of a general structure, concisely writing each of its parts and proposing instruments that would be useful in the execution of the plan. As well as the different procedures for implementation, the data was collected through documentary research and in-depth interviews with experts in the field. Results and Discussion: The correct implementation of the proposed business plan based on the physical and biological characteristics of Cerro de Lobo and the species that inhabit it, such as its flora and fauna. They allowed the construction of an eco-recreational park that promotes an ecological culture and raises awareness among the inhabitants of the municipality of Pachuca and surrounding places about environmental and ecological values; In addition to this, the recovery of the forest is sought, investing in a reforestation process, which is why the park is currently operating. With this project, benefits are achieved for citizens and the environment. Research Implications: The findings of this research have significant implications for both the government in power, the residents of the area, as well as visitors to the park. It is important to adopt flexible implementation strategies and take advantage of advanced technologies inherent to improve processes and facilitate decision making by adapting to changing weather conditions and dynamic market conditions. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by offering new insights into the proposal and implementation of a business plan for the creation of eco-tourism parks, through the tuning of methodologies. The practical implications derived from this study serve as a valuable resource for government institutions seeking to increase operational efficiency and strategic effectiveness in an increasingly complex panorama that cannot leave aside the care of the environment and the search for benefits for citizens.

Reconstruction of 30 m Land Cover in the Qilian Mountains from 1980 to 1990 Based on Super-Resolution Generative Adversarial Networks

Long time series of annual land cover with fine spatio-temporal resolutions play a crucial role in studying environmental climate change, biophysical modeling, carbon cycling models, and land management. Despite a strong consistency exhibited by several publicly available medium to fine resolution global land cover datasets, significant discrepancies exist at the regional scale; moreover, only every 5/10 year land cover were available. Consequently, high-quality annual land cover datasets before 2000 are unavailable in China. In this study, we proposed a deep learning-based method by integrating multiple remote sensing data from different platforms with historical high spatial resolution land cover datasets (CNLUCC) to derive the 30 m annual land cover maps from 1980 to 1990 for Qilian Mountain. First, the super-resolution generative adversarial network models for upscaling the 5.5 km AVHRR NDVI to 250 m were established by employing the AVHRR and MODIS NDVI data with the same year as input, and the early time series AVHRR NDVI data were subsequently upscaled to 250 m through the above models. Second, the breaks for the additive seasonal and trend (BFAST) change detection algorithm was applied to the upscaled time series NDVI data to detect the change time of different land cover types. Third, the CNLUCC data in 1980 and 1990 were updated to annual land cover datasets from 1980 to 1990 and the annual mapping results provided insights into the dynamic processes of urbanization, deforestation, water bodies, and farmland from 1980 to 1990. Finally, comprehensive analysis and validation were carried out for evaluation and an overall accuracy of 77.26% for the land cover product in 1986 was achieved.

Uncovering Patterns: Data Mining the Deforestation Frontier in Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract. The Brazilian Cerrado, recognized as the world's most diverse tropical savanna, has undergone significant land clearance for agriculture, cattle ranching, and charcoal production, leading to considerable loss of its natural vegetation. This deforestation disrupts major aquifers, affecting ecosystems and human populations. The Cerrado Deforestation Monitoring Project (PRODES), active since 2017, systematically maps new deforestation using satellite imagery. This study used GeoDMA, a geospatial data mining tool for analyzing complex spatial databases such as those provided by the PRODES. The study area is the Alto Parnaíba region within the MATOPIBA agricultural frontier, characterized by high rates of crop expansion and burned areas. Using PRODES deforestation data from 2000 to 2023, the study categorizes deforestation patterns into geometric, multidirectional, and diffuse types, associated with large-scale agriculture, smallholder farming, and subsistence agriculture, respectively. The analysis reveals that approximately 50% of land use trajectories are small-scale subsistence agriculture, predominantly in northern Alto Parnaíba. Unchanged large-scale farms are concentrated in the southern part of the study area, linked to annual crops. The transition from small to large-scale farms is significant in the western region. Protected areas, especially strictly protected conservation units, show minimal changes in native vegetation. This study highlights the expansion of large-scale agriculture in MATOPIBA, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to manage land use changes and prevent further deforestation. Future research should extend this approach to other Cerrado ecoregions to improve the detection and analysis of deforestation processes.

The Guaraní expansion in the Upper Uruguay River. Chronology, colonization strategies, social impacts and environmental changes

The Guaraní archaeological record reflects the material culture and associated behaviors of ancient Amazonian forager-horticulturalists who expanded from southwestern Amazonia to the Río de la Plata River, leading one of the most significant pre-Columbian migrations in the Americas. This study focuses on the Guaraní colonization of the Upper Uruguay River, located within the tropical rainforests of southeastern South America. Utilizing a geographic and chronological database specifically developed for this research, along with statistical tools, pollen, and charcoal records from a sediment core recovered in the region, we present the first comprehensive analysis of the Guaraní colonization process in this valley, including its environmental impact and effects on pre-existing non-Guaraní populations.The first evidence of Guaraní occupation in the Upper Uruguay River is dated between 773 and 880 CE, within a well-developed deciduous forest. This initial phase, extending between ∼ 770 and 1000 CE, indicates the presence of small founder populations that left a weak archaeological signal characterized by a few scattered settlements along the valley. Subsequently, between 1000 and 1400 CE, a gradual expansion of these groups is observed along the valley, leading to the first environmental impacts, such as an emerging deforestation process, an increase in species typical of secondary forests, and the earliest detection of Zea mays. Between ∼1400 and 1600 CE, there was a sudden increase in the number of Guaraní sites, which were distributed almost continuously along the 240 km of the valley, leading to the displacement of non-Guaraní indigenous societies. During this phase, the Guaraní population occupied the entire deciduous forest area up to the headwaters of the Uruguay River, at the confluence of the Canoas and Pelotas rivers, where they reached the limit of their ecological niche. During this period, significant environmental changes occurred, including widespread deforestation due to the intensification of slash-and-burn practices, an increase in maize cultivation and other edible species, and a greater frequency of species typical of open areas growing within disturbed forests. By 1600 CE, the valley experienced significant depopulation, coinciding with Portuguese and Spanish colonization of the region, leading to the full regeneration of the forest as a secondary forest.

Analysis of Deforestation and Water Quality in the Talgua River Watershed (Honduras): Ecosystem Approach Based on the DPSIR Model

With increasing urbanization and industrialization, soil and forest resources are facing considerable pressure, as well as the demand for water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial activities. Therefore, it is essential to conduct regular assessments of water quality and ensure that water is consistently maintained in the context of ecosystem services (ESs). Our objective was to apply the driving forces–pressures–state–impacts–responses (DPSIR) model to understand the cause–effect relationships and interactions with anthropogenic pressures on deforestation and water quality in the Talgua River watershed and associated valley and plain areas in central-eastern Honduras. Physicochemical and microbiological analyses were conducted to determine the water quality index (NSF–WQI) and other contamination indexes. The results identified high contamination by coliforms, up to 920.00 NPM/100 mL, and high levels of contamination by organic matter (ICOMO, 0.65), solids (ICOSUS, 0.79), mineralization (ICOMI, 0.99), and the presence of bacteria (BPI, 8.50), as well as the development of eutrophication processes (ICOTRO), resulting in generally low water quality. These problems were caused by the socio-demographic and economic growth of the area, as well as the high demand for water, vulnerability to climate change, and intense agro-livestock and industrial activity, which led to deforestation processes, changes in land use, and contamination of natural water bodies that impacted the overexploitation of aquifers. After applying the DPSIR model, strategies are proposed for the management and administration of the watershed aimed at preserving the water, soils, and forest resources, while promoting stakeholder, business, education sector, and public administration participation.

An insight into the weeds of dark waters for animal health and wealth

Today’s world be it man or animal, there is scarcity of good food and nutrition with many health issues. The animal world especially is not fodder secure with over 500 million animals to feed in our country alone. The process of deforestation and concretisation of the land, reduced farming land, low farming affinity, crop losses and low harvests due to demineralisation of the land can be attributed as the cause for this. At this juncture the search for alternate fodder sources have led our way to the “SEA VEGGIES” MISNOMERED as Sea weeds. These form nearly 70% of the earth’s plant treasure wherein only 1 % of it has been utilised as of now. Seaweeds have nearly 63 minerals, protein to a max. Of 60%, apart from all vitamins (except vit-D), Omega 3 fatty acids, flavinoidds and caretonoids. Apart from being good sources of food, they have industrial usage in the form of Algin, Alginic acid and Carragenan. Used as fertilizers and soil binders, in waste water treatment, in cosmetics and medicines. Our ancient wisdom has given an insight into the usage of seaweeds to feed and treat the animals. Our work embarks upon the prospect of the use of seaweeds in the health and nutrition of animals and found to be the best alternative yet to be tapped.

Deforestation fight in the sight of Brazilian Amazonas inhabitants

Brazilian Amazon deforestation crystallizes numerous political, economic, and social issues. Recent empirical studies explore deforestation drivers by focusing on large-scale perspective but ignore the sight of the local populations. This article aims at providing an overview of deforestation perception among local populations defined as living within or near the Amazon biome. We have conducted 197 interviews in October 2021 in the Brazilian Amazonas region. On the basis of these interviews, we provide statistical analysis to explore 5 effects capable of driving the local perception of the deforestation processes: the gender, educational, generational, geographical and indigenous effects. Our results first highlight a very high and positive educational effect for the highest education level and a high indigenous effect, both in conformity with the intuition. Second, we observe a negative gender effect, contradicting some strands in the academic literature, and a high but ambiguous geographical effect. Finally, age does not appear to be neither a driver of interest nor an engagement in the fight against deforestation. In a context where the enforcement of environmental policy has become ineffective in recent years, we argue that characterizing local perceptions of deforestation processes might help to adjust the policy campaigns against deforestation, enhance their effectivenesses, and therefore participate to the restoration of Amazonian cover.

Analysis of land use change using remote sensing and GIS techniques in the Cazaderos forest, Loja province, Southern Ecuador

The predominant aim of the current study has been to determine land use change over a period of eight years in the Cazaderos dry forest in the province of Loja in Ecuador using remote sensing and GIS techniques. The methodology employed included the application of supervised classification of multispectral satellite imag-es applied to freely available Landsat 8 images using Catalyst image processing software and the application of the Object Analysis technique, which is presented as the methodological protocol in remote sensing that offers the highest level of accuracy. This process was accompanied by complementary Geographical Infor-mation System (GIS) techniques that allowed spatialization and quantification of the resulting information. The Cazaderos dry forest in the period of analysis has suffered a significant spatial fragmentation dominated by the current presence of bare soils that were previously covered by dense shrubs and have undergone a process of deforestation. During the period 2013 - 2021 the deforestation process extended to an area of 1273.95 ha corresponding to 15.21% of the total surface of the study area while reforestation reached 1426.86 ha corresponding to 17.04% of the total surface.

Documenting birds over two centuries of deforestation in an Atlantic Forest region of Brazil

ABSTRACT The first ornithological record from Paraná State, Southern Brazil, dates from 1820, when forests covered 83% of the area. There is a lack of studies evaluating how knowledge on species richness increased over time, together with a massive deforestation process. We aimed to describe the changes, by decade, in forest species richness since that time, and to determine how field effort hours were distributed. We reviewed published studies using online databases. We compared forest bird communities between decades with Jaccard Dissimilarity Indices and compared communities’ composition among decades with Analysis of Similarity. In 200 years, 421 forest bird species were mentioned. Most of the species were detected until 1980, a likely subset of the avifauna before habitat loss; fewer species (108) were recorded afterward. An increasing number of species (8–20) stopped being recorded by decade from the 1980s. Field effort hours were mentioned in 1984, remaining temporally and spatially uneven. More than 1,000 localities have been inventoried, but most species reports are from Eastern municipalities. Areas within Serra do Mar, Curitiba, and Londrina stand out as protected forests and well-known academic centers. Cerrado endemics corroborated the relevance of exploring different regions, but further studies in this domain are strongly recommended.

Staging the New City: Urban spectacles and the ecological origins of Nayib Bukele's authoritarian populism

AbstractThis paper analyzes the connections between real estate speculation and authoritarian populism in El Salvador. Focusing on president Nayib Bukele's term as mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlán (2012–2015), I examine the role speculative urbanism played in the crafting of his profile as a promising politician in the early years of his career. I trace how Bukele instrumentalized the ecosystem of Nuevo Cuscatlán's coffee forest as a means to fund a personalistic populist strategy whose main project called for the construction of a “New City.” This project involved the lifting of barriers to real estate investment to raise funds for social programs and municipal infrastructure. Its flipside was an aggressive process of deforestation and displacement of rural populations. Drawing on urban political ecology and critical agrarian studies, I argue that Bukele's New City project constituted a type of urban spectacle. This urban spectacle was rooted in two socio‐ecological dynamics: (1) The use of land as a revenue‐raising token of exchange; and (2) The fetishization of urban water infrastructure in the context of water scarcity. The paper concludes with various considerations about the destructive force of the link between authoritarian populism and urban extractivism in rural environments.

Updated Land Use and Land Cover Information Improves Biomass Burning Emission Estimates

Biomass burning (BB) emissions negatively impact the biosphere and human lives. Orbital remote sensing and modelling are used to estimate BB emissions on regional to global scales, but these estimates are subject to errors related to the parameters, data, and methods available. For example, emission factors (mass emitted by species during BB per mass of dry matter burned) are based on land use and land cover (LULC) classifications that vary considerably across products. In this work, we evaluate how BB emissions vary in the PREP-CHEM-SRC emission estimator tool (version 1.8.3) when it is run with original LULC data from MDC12Q1 (collection 5.1) and newer LULC data from MapBiomas (collection 6.0). We compare the results using both datasets in the Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado biomes during the 2002–2020 time series. A major reallocation of emissions occurs within Brazil when using the MapBiomas product, with emissions decreasing by 788 Gg (−1.91% year−1) in the Amazon and emissions increasing by 371 Gg (2.44% year−1) in the Cerrado. The differences identified are mostly associated with the better capture of the deforestation process in the Amazon and forest formations in Northern Cerrado with the MapBiomas product, as emissions in forest-related LULCs decreased by 5260 Gg in the Amazon biome and increased by 1676 Gg in the Cerrado biome. This is an important improvement to PREP-CHEM-SRC, which could be considered the tool to build South America’s official BB emission inventory and to provide a basis for setting emission reduction targets and assessing the effectiveness of mitigation strategies.

Глобальное изменение климата и лесные экосистемы

The article examines the relationship between the process of global climate change and the forest ecosystem, analyzes forecasts for an increase in the average global air temperature and the intensification of deforestation processes. Keywords: FOREST ECOSYSTEMS, GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, GREENHOUSE GASES, DEFORESTATION, AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE

Historical changes in biomass carbon stocks in the Mediterranean (Spain, 1860–2010)

Land-use change was the main source of anthropogenic CO2 emissions until the mid-twentieth century, especially due to deforestation processes. In recent decades, however, CO2 sequestration is being induced in some countries where forest area is experiencing net increases. Despite the key role of these processes, we hardly dispose of any empirical evidence of historical changes in biomass stocks, especially in the long-term (over 50 years) and in cultivated areas. In this study, we quantify the evolution of the surface area, carbon stocks (C) and C density of living biomass in Spain (50 provinces) between 1860 and 2010. According to our results, the C stock fell from 340.3 Tg C to 254.2 Tg C between 1860 and 1950, to then reach 844.0 Tg C in 2010. Although the stock began to increase much later than in other European countries, annual growth rates were much more significant. A decomposition analysis allowed us to observe that the increase in stock was mainly due to the change in C density (61.2% of the effect), surface area (35.3%) and, to a lesser extent, to the effect of location in more productive areas (5.7%). Woody crops – which were historically managed as agroforestry systems when combined with other crops – stored 15.8% of total stocks during the period studied. They play a particularly important role in areas with a Mediterranean climate because in these provinces, crops such as olive groves, vineyards or oranges have proliferated. The reasons for C stock increases are: the substitution of firewood with fossil fuels; agricultural intensification; and the outsourcing of land use to other countries through agricultural imports.

Characterization of the dynamics of the successional stages of the Amazon forest using Google Earth Engine

Aim of study: This study evaluates the potential of the Google Earth Engine tool, supported by fine-scale information obtained by Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, to apply and characterize the dynamics of the successional stages of the Amazon Forest in the state of Rondônia over ten years. Area of study: The study was carried out in the state of Rondônia located in the North Region of Brazil (Western Amazon). Material and methods: The data and its by-products were derived from the Landsat Level 1 - TOA collection of the United States Geological Survey, specifically Landsat 5 and 8. The mapping also used Phantom 4 Pro UAV images. We used the supervised classifier Random Forest to map the primary forest/advanced regeneration, medium regeneration, initial regeneration, and classes, and, subsequently, we crossed and quantified the successional advance and vegetation loss. Main results: It was observed that the state lost forest area even with the successional advance that occurred throughout the period, implying that the forest succession was insufficient in the face of forest deforestation. Research highlights: This study contributed to understanding the dynamics of the Amazon Forest, which goes through a process of deforestation and forest regeneration simultaneously.

History of deforestation in the vicinity of a village in Northern Masovia, Poland: An example of the possible old wood effect

Abstract Anthropogenic activity changes the processes of erosion on slopes. The deforestation process is connected with the deposition of material at the foot of the slope. During this process, macro-charcoals from anthropogenic-induced fires are trapped in the sediments. This paper provides an analysis of charcoal counts and sediment characteristics and is supported by historical data analysis. During this study, a discrepancy between radiocarbon dating and historical data was revealed; a probable explanation is presented.

Stepwise deforestation during the Permian-Triassic boundary crisis linked to rising temperatures

Although the trajectory of the marine mass extinction at the ∼252-Ma Permian-Triassic (P-Tr) boundary has been well studied, details of the coeval collapse of terrestrial ecosystems remain murky. Here, we use hydrocarbon biomarker compositions and other geological records (i.e., organic carbon isotopes (δ13Corg), charcoal abundance, and Hg content) from a tropical peatland succession in southwestern China to reconstruct in detail the history of terrestrial ecosystem collapse during the P-Tr crisis. Our high-resolution hydrocarbon biomarker records reveal that this collapse proceeded in a stepwise manner with increasing intensity as the crisis unfolded. We recognize three discrete crisis stages: Stage I within the uppermost Xuanwei Formation and Stages II and III within the lowermost Kayitou Formation. Stage I, the early crisis stage, is marked by a significant decline in terrestrial biomass (continuing into the later stages), as recorded by reduced C29 steranes relative to total steranes and a concomitant reduction in the ratio of pristane to phytane (Pr/Ph). Stage II, the main crisis stage, records intensified soil erosion and sediment flux as revealed by rising dibenzofuran (DBF) content and high hopane/sterane ratios, the disappearance of coal seams, a sharp negative shift in δ13Corg, and peak concentrations of charcoal reflecting increased wildfire incidence. Stage III, the late crisis stage characterized by enhanced soil erosion, corresponds to peak values of Hg and Hg/TOC but no charcoal peak, suggesting intensified volcanism and a return to a humid climate. These stages closely follow temperature records, which show a stepwise rise during the crisis interval, implying that the deforestation process was strongly influenced by punctuated rises in temperature and/or its attendant effects (e.g., climate aridification). This P-Tr transition scenario suggests that global warming can trigger deforestation and reduce terrestrial carbon storage, thus serving as a positive climate feedback, with important implications for present-day climate change.

Multi-site archaeobotanical analysis reveals wood-fuel supply, woodland impact and land use around Roman urban centres: The case of Barcino (Barcelona, NE Iberia)

Woodlands are especially important spaces for city fuel provisioning. During Roman times urban centres carried out numerous activities with frequent wood-energy requirements, and as a result, they potentially impacted the composition of the surrounding forests.Considering this premise, this study discusses the wood fuel economy and the configuration of the landscape around the Roman colony of Barcino (present-day Barcelona), located on the NW Mediterranean coast. We approached the topic starting from an analysis of wood charcoal fragments and pollen remains sampled from several rescue archaeological excavations along the perimeter wall of the Roman city, in order to shed light on the composition of the urban wood fuel exploited and the land cover of the suburban area between the 1st and the 6th centuries CE.The charcoal analysis revealed that most of the fuel procured for Barcino came from holm oak woodlands, with Quercus ilex, Arbutus unedo and Erica arborea woods predominantly being harvested. Furthermore, the composition of the fuel charcoal debris appeared similar in the different excavation-sectors as well as constant through time, suggesting the existence of a fuel supply economy common to the whole city and sustainable woodland management to fulfil these needs.Moreover, pollen analysis detected an important deforestation process in the ager of the city, accompanied by an increase in cereal and vine cultivation. In addition, either pollen and/or charcoal findings assessed the introduction of new fruit trees in the area (Castanea sativa, Juglans regia, Maloideae, Citrus sp., Punica granatum, Prunus sp.). Overall, these data suggest the fragmentation and ever-increasing shift of forested areas in the hinterland of the Barcelona plain, as well as on the hills.

The role of forest fragmentation in yellow fever virus dispersal

The intense process of deforestation in tropical forests poses serious challenges for the survival of biodiversity, as well as for the human species itself. This scenario is supported by the increase in the incidence of epidemics of zoonotic origin observed over the last few decades. In the specific case of sylvatic yellow fever (YF), it has already been shown that an increase in the transmission risk of the causative agent (yellow fever virus - YFV) is associated with areas with a high degree of forest fragmentation, which can facilitate the spread of the virus. In this study we tested the hypothesis that areas with more fragmented landscapes and a higher edge density (ED) but a high degree of connectivity between forest patches favor YFV spread. To this end, we used YF epizootics in non-human primates (NHPs) in the state of São Paulo to build direct networks, and used a multi-selection approach to analyze which landscape features could facilitate YFV spread. Our results showed that municipalities with the potential to spread the virus exhibited a higher amount of forest edge. Additionally, the models with greater empirical support showed a strong association between forest edge density and the risk of occurrence of epizootic diseases, as well as the need for a minimum threshold of native vegetation cover to restrict their transmission. These findings corroborate our hypothesis that more fragmented landscapes with a higher degree of connectivity favor the spread of YFV, while landscapes with fewer connections tend to act as dead zones for the circulation of the virus.

Felled Forests and Fallowed Fields: Establishing a Narrative of Ecological and Climate Change in Mongol-Era Goryeo

Abstract: Goryeo (918–1392) was a politically and commercially integrated part of the wider Mongol Empire (1206–1368), while also temporally situated in the difficult transition from the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) to the Little Ice Age (LIA). Yet narratives of Goryeo’s incorporation into the Mongol world remain overwhelmingly focused on politics, economics, and culture. Since Alfred Crosby’s Ecological Imperialism , scholars have increasingly been sensitive to the ecological impacts of imperialism and colonialism, while Geoffrey Parker has highlighted the integral role of climate in human history. This study seeks to combine these two approaches and argues that the confluence of Mongol imperialism and climate change was profoundly impactful on Goryeo’s environment and ecologies. Invasion and incorporation into the Mongol Empire spurred processes of deforestation and agro-ecological transformation, as armies traversed the peninsula, populations were displaced, and capitals were (re)built. Therein, an arguably drier, cooler, and less stable climate compounded anthropocentric agro-ecological dislocation and sylvan ecological disruption. Consequently, political transitions, as in the 1258 fall of the Choe dictatorship and the end of Goryeo itself in 1392, cannot be separated from the climate destabilization of the MWP-LIA transition.

Spatially explicit simulation of deforestation using the Ising-like neutral model

Deforestation is a prominent example of anthropogenic land change. Here we investigate deforestation from a landscape ecology perspective by process-based modeling of a sequence of consecutive landscape patterns starting from a homogeneous forest and ending in homogeneous agricultural land. We propose an Ising-like neutral model to mimic the deforestation dynamics. Our goal is to demonstrate that such a simple conceptualization of the deforestation process is capable of simulating an evolutionary sequence of landscape patterns matching empirical data. The model has only two parameters, one representing an external pressure (for or against deforestation), and another representing a propensity of land for spatial autocorrelation. We perform a suite of simulations to link a process, as parameterized by the values of the two parameters, to the sequence of landscape patterns. We have found a narrow range of parameters for which the model quantitatively and visually matches empirical data. This indicates that the Ising-like neutral model captures the essential aspects of a deforestation process and that the temporal sequence of intermediate landscape patterns does not depend on the details of the process.