Hectares Of Forest Research Articles

Quality assessment of briquettes derived from carbonized cassava peel and sawdust as sustainable domestic sources of energy in Oyo State, Nigeria

About 80% of Nigeria’s rural and semi-urban population uses fuelwood, which accounts for 37% of the country’s energy demand. This results in the annual loss of 350,000 to 400,000 hectares of forest, increased carbon emissions, and loss of biodiversity, affecting ecosystems and quality of life. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical and combustion properties of carbonized cassava peel (CP) and sawdust (SD) hybrid briquettes as an alternative to fuelwood. Factors considered were CP/SD ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100), binder concentrations (5 and 10 g), and residence times (10, 20, 30 min). The briquettes were produced by applying a low compaction pressure of 2.4 MPa. The briquettes exhibited densities of 320.00-627.79 kg/m³, moisture content of 4.37-8.22%, water resistances of 87.26-99.85%, ash content of 5.73-41.03%, calorific values of 20.01-32.30 KJ/kg, and carbon content of 55.25-57.07%, respectively. ANOVA and Duncan’s multiple range tests revealed that CP/SD ratio is the most significant factor influencing the physicochemical and combustion properties of the briquettes. This study successfully showcased carbonized CP/SD briquettes as an alternative cooking fuel in Oyo State, leveraging the abundance of CP and SD and the feasibility of low-pressure compaction without costly equipment.

Estimating Carbon Stock in Unmanaged Forests Using Field Data and Remote Sensing

Unmanaged forest ecosystems play a critical role in addressing the ongoing climate and biodiversity crises. As there is no commercial interest in monitoring the health and development of such inaccessible habitats, low-cost assessment approaches are needed. We used a method combining RGB imagery acquired using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Sentinel-2 data, and field surveys to determine the carbon stock of an unmanaged forest in the UNESCO World Heritage Site wilderness area Dürrenstein-Lassingtal in Austria. The entry-level consumer drone (DJI Mavic Mini) and freely available Sentinel-2 multispectral datasets were used for the evaluation. We merged the Sentinel-2 derived vegetation index NDVI with aerial photogrammetry data and used an orthomosaic and a Digital Surface Model (DSM) to map the extent of woodland in the study area. The Random Forest (RF) machine learning (ML) algorithm was used to classify land cover. Based on the acquired field data, the average carbon stock per hectare of forest was determined to be 371.423 ± 51.106 t of CO2 and applied to the ML-generated class Forest. An overall accuracy of 80.8% with a Cohen’s kappa value of 0.74 was achieved for the land cover classification, while the carbon stock of the living above-ground biomass (AGB) was estimated with an accuracy within 5.9% of field measurements. The proposed approach demonstrated that the combination of low-cost remote sensing data and field work can predict above-ground biomass with high accuracy. The results and the estimation error distribution highlight the importance of accurate field data.

One Health, One Forest: Harnessing Reclaimed Wood as a Sustainable Solution

Deforestation is a multifaceted and wicked problem characterized by its complexity and resistance to straightforward solutions. The issue is driven by human activities and has severe ecological, socio-economic, and climatic consequences. Between 1990 and 2015, approximately 129 million hectares of forest were lost globally, a trend contributing to biodiversity loss, increased carbon dioxide emissions, and climate change. In Canada, deforestation due to logging significantly impacts the boreal forests, with consequences such as habitat fragmentation affecting species like the threatened boreal caribou. The Canadian logging industry aims to provide essential raw materials while fostering economic growth and employment, supplying critical resources for sawmills, planing mills, shingle mills, and pulp and paper industries. Despite economic benefits, logging, particularly clearcutting, disrupts natural forest regeneration, soil composition, and water cycles, leading to long-term ecological consequences. The One Health approach, integrating human, non-human animal, and environmental health, is proposed to address this issue sustainably. Actions like those by Forests Ontario and Evergreen focus on reforestation and urban greening, while companies like Consolidated Pallet Co. promote wood recycling. This action plan showcases the potential for community-driven solutions to reduce environmental footprints, enhance sustainability, and foster economic and social well-being.

Peatland wetness as an indicator of fire occurrence in forest and land fires (FLFs)

Background: Peatland ecosystems play an important role in the hydrological cycle and carbon cycling. In Indonesia, peatlands store about 28.6 gigatonnes of carbon which is equivalent to 10 years of global fossil fuel emissions. Peatlands act as a water storage during wet seasons and slowly release water during dry seasons to maintain river discharges and hydrological balance. However, climate change induced prolong drought has increased peatland dryness in recent decades which elevate the risks of unwanted peatland fires. During El Nino-induced drought in 2015, over 2.6 million hectares of forest and land burned, emitting 0.81–1.4 gigatonnes of greenhouse gases. The extreme fires damaged biodiversity, degraded water quality and displaced thousands of locals. This study aimed to analyze peatland wetness as an indicator of fire occurrences in forest and land fires (FLFs) in Riau, Indonesia by examining the relationship between degree of peatland wetness derived from satellite imagery and hotspots data. Methods: Peatland wetness was estimated from microwave backscattering coefficients at several RadarSat synthetic aperture radar (SAR) wavelengths and cross validated with water table depth measurements from 120 monitoring wells. Hotspots data between 2015-2020 were obtained from NASA's MODIS active fire product. Finding: Preliminary results showed significant negative correlations between peatland wetness and numbers of hotspots in peatlands, with more hotspots occurring in drier peatlands compared to wetter ones. This implies that maintaining peatland hydrological functions through continuoussaturation is pivotal to prevent severe peatland wildfires under future climate change. Conclusion: Conservation efforts to restore hydrological balance in degraded peatlands through re-wetting strategies are recommended. Further research utilizing machine learning algorithms to produce high-resolution peatland wetness maps can improve fire risk monitoring in peatlands. Novelty/Originality of this Study: This study introduces the novel concept of utilizing peatland wetness as a key indicator for predicting and mitigating forest and land fires in Indonesia, particularly in Riau Province. By combining peatland moisture and temperature data, the research establishes threshold values to better predict fire risks and guide timely mitigation efforts, thereby enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of FLF response activities.

The Impact of Catastrophic Forest Fires of 2021 on the Light Soils in Central Yakutia

This paper presents the results of studying changes in the main parameters and properties of soils in larch and pine forests growing on sandy soils of the Lena-Vilyui interfluve of Central Yakutia, where catastrophic forest fires occurred in 2021. According to the remote monitoring information system of Rosleskhoz, in 2021, almost 8.5 million hectares of forests burned in Yakutia, which is considered as one of the largest forest fires in Russia and in the world in that year. After the fire passes through the forest floor, the content of organic matter decreases as a result of combustion processes. The acidity of the soil changes towards its alkalization due to the entry of combustion products. Changes in soil profiles occur; turbation processes begin more intensively, which in turn change the natural distribution of soil indicator values such as the organic carbon content, the pH, and the number of exchangeable bases. Due to the sharp increase in heat supply after a fire, the depth of seasonal thawing in the soils of burnt larch forests increases by a quarter and by twofold in pine forests. With the beginning of the thawing of the seasonally frozen layer, all the soils experience waterlogging, and ground water occurs above the permafrost.

Changes in aerosol properties at the El Arenosillo site in Southern Europe as a result of the 2023 Canadian forest fires

From the beginning of May 2023 to the end of August 2023, the Northern Hemisphere experienced significant wildfire activity with the most widespread fires occurring in Canada. Forest fires in Canada destroyed more than 15.6 million hectares of forests. These wildfires worsened air quality across the region and other parts of the world. The smoke reached southern Europe by the end of June 2023. To better understand the consequences of such forest fires far from the site of origin, aerosol optical, microphysical and radiative properties were analyzed during this event for southern Europe using data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI), and Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET). TROPOMI aerosol index (AI) and the carbon monoxide (CO) product confirm that the smoke originated directly from these forest fires. AERONET data from the El Arenosillo site in southern Spain showed maximum aerosol optical depth (AOD) values on June 27 reached 2.36. Data on Angstrom Exponent (AE), aerosol volume size distribution (VSD), single scattering albedo (SSA), fine mode fraction (FMF), volume particle concentration, effective radius (REff), absorption AOD (AAOD), extinction AE (EAE) and absorption AE (AAE) showed that fine-mode particles with carbonaceous aerosols contribution predominated in the atmosphere above the El Arenosillo site. Direct aerosol radiative forcing (DARF) at the top (DARFTOA) and bottom of atmosphere (DARFBOA) were −103.1 and −198.93 Wm−2, respectively. The atmospheric aerosol radiative forcing (DARFATM) was found to be 95.83 Wm−2 and with a heating rate 2.69 K day−1, which indicates the resulting warming of the atmosphere.

Extreme wildfires in Canada and their contribution to global loss in tree cover and carbon emissions in 2023.

Canadian wildfires in 2023 were record breaking with wide-reaching impacts on people, nature, and climate. Extreme heat and low rainfall associated with climate change led to unprecedented forest fires that released enormous amounts of carbon as they burned. This study used data on fire-driven tree cover loss and forest carbon fluxes to estimate the total extent of stand-replacing forest fires and their associated carbon emissions. We found that the 2023 Canadian wildfires burned nearly 7.8 million hectares of forest and accounted for more than a quarter of all tree cover loss globally. Furthermore, forests impacted by wildfires emitted nearly 3 billion tons of CO2 or about 25% more carbon than all primary tropical tree cover loss that year. These results have important implications for global carbon budgets because emissions from these wildfires will largely be excluded from official greenhouse gas reporting.

Remote Sensing of Forests in Bavaria: A Review

In recent decades, climatic pressures have altered the forested landscape of Bavaria. Widespread loss of trees has unevenly impacted the entire state, of which 37% is covered by forests (5% more than the national average). In 2018 and 2019—due in large part to drought and subsequent insect infestations—more tree-covered areas were lost in Bavaria than in any other German state. Moreover, the annual crown condition survey of Bavaria has revealed a decreasing trend in tree vitality since 1998. We conducted a systematic literature review regarding the remote sensing of forests in Bavaria. In total, 146 scientific articles were published between 2008 and 2023. While 88 studies took place in the Bavarian Forest National Park, only five publications covered the whole of Bavaria. Outside of the national park, the remaining 2.5 million hectares of forest in Bavaria are understudied. The most commonly studied topics were related to bark beetle infestations (24 papers); however, few papers focused on the drivers of infestations. The majority of studies utilized airborne data, while publications utilizing spaceborne data focused on multispectral; other data types were under-utilized- particularly thermal, lidar, and hyperspectral. We recommend future studies to both spatially broaden investigations to the state or national scale and to increase temporal data acquisitions together with contemporaneous in situ data. Especially in understudied topics regarding forest response to climate, catastrophic disturbances, regrowth and species composition, phenological timing, and in the sector of forest management. The utilization of remote sensing data in the forestry sector and the uptake of scientific results among stakeholders remains a challenge compared to other heavily forested European countries. An integral part of the Bavarian economy and the tourism sector, forests are also vital for climate regulation via atmospheric carbon reduction and land surface cooling. Therefore, forest monitoring remains centrally important to attaining more resilient and productive forests.

Protection on the territory and customary rights of Cibarani Wewengkon in Lebak Regency, Banten, Indonesia

This study examines the influencing factors of policies related to customary rights or Wewengkon implementation in the Cibarani indigenous peoples, affecting the destruction of Leuweng Titipan Mount Liman. The protection and supervision of the Cibarani Wewengkon are regulated by the Lebak Regional Government Number 8 of 2015 concerning the Recognition, Protection, and Empowerment of the Kasepuhan Customary Law Community. However, despite getting supervision and protection, natural damage caused by unlicensed gold miners continues to wreak natural harm. As a result, two hectares of forest on Mount Liman were deforested. This research used a qualitative research approach and collected data through a literature study. The results indicated that the influencing factors of inadequate protection for the Cibarani Wewengkon are the ignorance of the Lebak Regional Government regarding the supervision and protection of the Cibarani Wewengkon. Their insensibility is induced by the issues in transmission of information or poor communication between policymakers, such as the Lebak Regency house of representative and the regent, resulting in vague details on the authority to safeguard and supervise.

Challenges and Institutional Barriers to Forest and Landscape Restoration in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh

Preventing, halting, and reversing ecosystem degradation is now a global priority, partly due to the declaration of the United Nations (UN) Decade on Ecosystem Restoration by the UN General Assembly 2021–2030 on 1 March 2019. Apart from the most recent global target to protect 30% of the natural planet by 2030 as part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed during COP15, there are several other global goals and targets. The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has also pledged to restore 0.75 million hectares of forests as part of the Bonn Challenge. The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh contain almost one-third of the country’s state-owned forests and are home to 12 ethnic communities, whose livelihoods are dependent on forests. Although once rich in biodiversity, the majority of the forests in the region are highly degraded due to faulty management, complex institutional arrangements, and land disputes with locals. The CHT, therefore, represent the most promising region for ecosystem restoration through forest and landscape restoration (FLR). Here, using the secondary literature, we examine the current institutional arrangements and drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in the CHT region and potential benefits and modalities to make FLR successful in the region. Based on our study, we suggest that institutional reform is essential for successful FLR in the CHT. We also discuss key interventions that are necessary to halt ecosystem degradation and to secure community participation in natural resources management in the region.

Composition of Attractant Semiochemicals of North American Species of Dendroctonus Bark Beetles: A Review

The 19 species of Dendroctonus bark beetles native to North America include several of the most significant biotic mortality agents of conifers in this region, and they have impacted millions of hectares of forest in recent decades. Semiochemical attractants play several vital roles in the biology of these insects including host finding, host assessment, and mate finding. They are key to the virulence of these insects, since they mediate the mass attacks that enable killing and reproduction within healthy trees. These attractants consist of combinations of thirteen identified pheromone components in three primary chemical classes and at least ten host-associated compounds dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons in host defensive resin. Due to their potential for use in pest management technologies, semiochemical attractants for Dendroctonus have received extensive research into their chemical compositions and effects on insect behavior. This paper is intended as a synthesis of this research over the past 60 years as well as a critical examination of approaches to investigation of this topic and interpretation of experimental results. Its purpose is to assist practitioners in formulating suitable attractive lures for use in applications and identify gaps in knowledge of the semiochemistry of Dendroctonus that should be addressed if the practical potential of attractants is to be fully realized.

Sequential sampling plans for Orgyia trigotephras infesting Quercus coccifera forests in North Africa

AbstractThe tussock moth, Orgyia trigotephras Boisduval (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), is one of the main emerging pests of kermes oak, Quercus coccifera L. (Fagaceae), in the Mediterranean area, where it can cause the defoliation of several hectares of forests during its population outbreaks. Despite this, no specific sampling procedures to properly estimate the population density of this pest have been developed yet. The aims of this research were to develop and compare enumerative and binomial sequential sampling plans to estimate the population density of O. trigotephras in forest environments. Data were collected in four forest stands dominated by Q. coccifera in Tunisia for 7 years (from 2013 to 2019) to take into consideration the potential spatio‐temporal variability in pest density. Plant community composition was determined at the beginning of the experimental trials, and enumerative and binomial sampling plans were developed at precision levels of 0.15 and 0.25. Over the entire sampling period, the average O. trigotephras egg batch density differed significantly among sites. Sample sizes of enumerative sampling plans were approximately 39 and 109 trees to estimate an average density of 0.50 O. trigotephras egg batches per tree at the precision levels of 0.25 and 0.15, respectively. Instead, binomial sequential sampling plans required smaller sampling sizes than the enumerative sampling plan. Our findings represent the baseline to develop a program for monitoring O. trigotephras at a large spatial scale.

Mangrove community-based management in Eastern Africa: experiences from rural Mozambique

IntroductionThis study investigated a community-based management model in a mangrove-dependent community in central Mozambique and its adequacy as a management tool for conservation.MethodsSatellite images were used to map changes in mangrove cover between 1996 and 2017. Individual interviews and Focus Group Discussions were conducted with community members to understand the mangrove restoration processes and management models.Results and discussionAfter unsustainable exploitation that led to mangrove deforestation, the local community engaged in a restoration and management program that started in the late 1990s. Local norms were delineated by the Natural Resources Management Committee (NRMC) aiming at (1) reducing extractive uses by introducing alternative income generating activities; (2) awareness and mangrove planting and (3) law enforcement. Ten hectares of forest were rehabilitated. However, the management system fails to exclude illegal cutters and to enforce regulatory and sanctioning mechanisms, due to resource limitations. More involvement from government authorities and other stakeholders is needed to enhance law enforcement and explore opportunities for carbon trading, tourism and payment for ecosystem services. Additional recommendations are to develop a community management plan and create alternatives to mangrove products and income. Mangrove community-based management is increasingly advocated in many developing countries to promote sustainable utilization of resources and conservation. Understanding the reasons behind the limited success and lessons learnt at this site will guide similar programs elsewhere in Mozambique and other parts of the globe.

Climate Policies and Forest Restoration Challenges in Bahia State South, Brazil

Climate change presents humanity with one of the most complex and pressing challenges of the 21st century. As such, effective public policies and legislation must be implemented to mitigate negative impacts and facilitate the adaptation of societies to new environmental dynamics. These policies are critical in aligning collective efforts toward a more sustainable and resilient economy, providing a crucial legal framework to guide individual, collective, and governmental actions toward climate change mitigation. Thereby, Brazil has committed to restoring 12 million hectares of forests by 2030 as part of its strategy to mitigate climate change. However, the absence of an express initial time frame by law has led to inconsistencies and possible low effectiveness of forest management policies. This study sought to examine Rural Environmental Registries (in Portuguese, Cadastro Ambiental Rural - CAR) of properties in the State of Bahia and assess restoration timetables for legal reserve areas, in addition to the challenges and opportunities associated with the formulation and implementation of forest restoration policies. Considering the implications of forest degradation on the environment and human livelihoods, it is a matter of great significance. As such, it warrants a thorough examination and analysis of the various factors involved, including the role of stakeholders, financial and technical feasibility, and the identification of appropriate goals and targets. The study findings indicate that, in 71% of the properties requiring legal reserve restoration, the timetable exceeded the established legal period of the year 2032. Additionally, in 45% of the cases, the term was calculated from the registration of the rural property in the CAR. Consequently, it was concluded that the erroneous interpretations adopted impede the recovery of native vegetation and, more significantly, the Brazilian goal of forest restoration of 12 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

The importance of forests in the environment

The importance of forests in the environment

The Urgency of Protecting Customary Forests Based on The Principle of Local Wisdom in North Aceh

Objective: One of the issues raised in the research on the recognition of customary forests in North Aceh District concerns the issue of customary forests after the Constitutional Court (MK) decision No. 35/PUU-X/2012 regarding customary forests. Indigenous forests are now officially recognised as belonging to indigenous communities, no longer to the state. This recognition comes from During 2016 to 2021, forests in Aceh have experienced deforestation of 100,510 hectares of forest, thus Aceh's forest cover is currently 3,004,532 hectares. Methods: This research started from July 2023 to November 2023. This research is an empirical legal research with a qualitative approach that uses primary data and secondary data to obtain primary data, respondents and informants are determined. Results: The purpose of this study is to maximise Criminal Law Enforcement Against Forestry Crimes in Aceh, seeking related agencies and law enforcers to provide protection of customary forests based on local wisdom in forestry crimes and recognition from the Aceh government to determine or sort out which land is state forest and which is customary forest land so as to provide welfare for Indigenous Peoples, especially in this study in Aceh. Discussion: The recognition of customary forests in Aceh has been regulated in Qanun No. 7 of 2016 concerning Aceh Forestry, but in this study, namely North Aceh District and Central Aceh District, the recognition of customary forests is still not effective, among others, influenced by juridical factors, economic factors and community culture, and social factors.Against the Urgency of Indigenous Forest Protection Based on Local Wisdom Principles in Aceh, especially in this study in North Aceh District and Central Aceh District against law enforcement carried out in forestry crimes using customary sanctions in the form of paying fines such as, diyat, suloh, and sayam.

Remote monitoring of the influx of military activities on forest landscapes of the Kharkiv region

Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine has significant consequences for forestry - 2.9 million hectares of forests have different levels of damage. Taking into account the territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, which were occupied until 2022, about 1 million hectares of forests are currently under occupation or are affected by active hostilities. Purpose. To record and visually analyze the manifestation of military actions within the forest landscapes of the Kharkiv region caused by a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Methods. Remote sensing methods, using Sentinel 2 L2A satellite images and Google Earth Pro software. Information on the dynamics of the occupation boundaries, including the forest landscapes of the Kharkiv region, was collected using QGIS software in the format of a vector layer. Results. The forest landscapes that were under occupation in 2022 at the maximum occupation of the territory of Kharkiv region covered 1177,082 km2. In the process of gradual liberation of the territory, the area of forests directly affected by hostilities decreased. The forest landscapes that were under occupation for different time periods (3, 4, 7, 8 months and more than 1 year) were identified. Since part of the region is still occupied, the last time category has no time limit. Based on the materials of the remote sensing of land cover, the authors identified the areas of destroyed forest as a result of logging and fires. Areas where fortifications were built and destroyed not only stands, but also the soil cover and made changes to the relief were identified. At the same time, forest landscapes were affected even without being occupied as a result of shelling, bombing and remote mining. The affected forest landscapes are part of the region's forestry enterprises, nature reserve fund objects, water protection and recreational areas. Conclusions. Monitoring the area of forest landscapes by means of remote sensing made it possible to identify the foci of the most affected areas, to periodize and establish the main components of the impact of military operations on forest landscapes: forest fires caused by explosions; damage to vegetation and soil due to bombing; felling of trees and destruction of soil cover for the construction of fortifications. The disadvantages of remote sensing include.

Health and economic burden of wildland fires PM2.5-related pollution in Portugal – A longitudinal study

Portugal has been affected by wildland fires that destroy thousands of hectares of forest, causing damage to the environment and to the exposed populations. This study aims to assess the influence of wildland fire emissions on air quality, its effect on population health and the related costs, between 2015 and 2018 in Portugal.The cause-specific mortality due to PM2.5 was calculated considering the exposure for five endpoints in adults, twelve age groups for adults and considering children under five years old. The contribution of wildfire emissions to PM2.5 concentrations in Portugal was assessed through EMEP-MSC/W model.Results showed that the average annual fire emissions of PM2.5, CO, CH4, CO2 and NO2 a significant and continuous increase was observed during the first three years (2015, 2016 and 2017) for all pollutants, followed by a decrease in 2018, with values lower than those observed in 2015.Regarding the long-term exposure to PM2.5 emitted by fires a total of 32, 93, 189 and 31 deaths, corresponding to a cost of 59, 174, 360 and 60 million EUR in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively, were estimated.On the other hand, in the first three years an increase in years of life lost (YLL) values of 496, 1608 and 3092 was observed, corresponding to a cost of 16, 54 and 105 million EUR, respectively, followed by a decrease in 2018 with a YLL of 480, corresponding to a cost of 17 M€.

Development of regional height growth model for Scots pine using repeated airborne laser scanning data

The rapid development of remote sensing technologies is creating unprecedented opportunities for monitoring and inventorying forest ecosystems. One advantage of remote sensing data is that it can be used to monitor and measure tree growth in near real-time, providing extremely useful data for growth modelling. This study used Aerial Laser Scanning (ALS) data from 14,920 Scots pine stands for the Katowice Regional Directorate of State Forests in southwestern Poland. We tested the possibility of calibrating a regional height growth model for Scots pine for a study area covering 754 thousands of hectares of forests. The model was validated with models developed for Scots pine using the traditional approach based on field data. Our results show that the model calibrated using remote sensing data does not differ significantly from the model calibrated using traditional field measurements from stem analysis. What is more, using a model developed from ALS data gives even better accuracy in modelling height growth than a traditional model calibrated with ground data. Our results are promising for the application of repeated ALS data to the development of regional height growth models, allowing long-term prediction of tree growth under current climatic conditions.

CONTRIBUTION OF PROTECTED AREAS TO AVOIDED DEFORESTATION IN MATO GROSSO, BRAZIL

Protected Areas (PAs) are important spaces for the protection of biodiversity, capable of halting deforestation and collaborating in the intentions to reduce climate change. The objective of this work is to demonstrate the importance of Protected Areas in the state of Mato Grosso in the avoided deforestation and to estimate their contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and soil erosion. The methodology was based on secondary data and the use of a GIS environment. As a result, it was found that in Mato Grosso there are 120 PAs between federal, state and municipal, they protect 6% of the territorial area of the state and most are located in the Amazon biome. Mato Grosso’s Forest cover in 2019 was 49.8 million hectares, with an estimated forest carbon stock of over 16.4 GtCO2. The PAs were created over the years in the state, but the greatest number occurred between 2000 and 2005 and together, in 2019 they were responsible for preventing the deforestation of more than 726,000 hectares of forest, 10 million tons of erosion and storing 281 million tons of carbon, which if traded on the credit market would have an estimated value of more than US$1.25 million. If the PAs did not exist and if deforestation were to be carried out, the cost of replacing this area would be more than US$2.73 billion. Therefore, the importance of PAs in environmental conservation and in the economy related to forest cover is notorious.