High Deforestation Rates Research Articles

Overlapping land rights and deforestation in Uganda: 20 years of evidence

The majority of the world’s land is held in customary tenure systems, often with overlapping claims. Designing effective policy to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation requires understanding land management choices within these systems. Using a nation-wide random sample of over 300,000 hectares of forested land in Uganda from 2000 to 2019, we examine how deforestation trends across a system of overlapping rights, known as mailo land tenure, change in response to legal amendments intended to increase land tenure security. Graphical analysis reveals that mailo land has always had higher deforestation rates, compared to private and customary land, which increased relative to other tenure systems beginning in 2010 when a law was passed to protect tenants on mailo land. Statistical analysis controlling for spatial and time effects shows that prior to 2010, trends across tenure systems were similar. After 2010, deforestation increased significantly on land with overlapping rights and then began to decrease after 2017 relative to rates on customary or fully privatized land. We hypothesize that the uptick in deforestation resulted from unintended, increased uncertainty generated by the 2010 law, which changed owner/tenant relations on land with overlapping rights. The decrease in deforestation rates after 2017 was consistent with increased tenure security from an acceleration in the uptake of permanent certificates of occupancy. These findings demonstrate that outcomes under systems of overlapping rights can be destabilized by well-intentioned reform, and that securing tenant rights can reduce deforestation.

Catalog and distribution atlas of the Scarabaeoidea (Insecta: Coleoptera) of El Salvador

Less than 1% of the literature on El Salvador’s biodiversity is about terrestrial invertebrates, which limits our knowledge of this group’s diversity, richness, and distribution in the territory. Scarabaeoidea are megadiverse in multiple ecosystems and perform many functions. This work aims to catalog the Scarabaeoidea in El Salvador. We conducted an exhaustive review of published literature and reviewed numerous entomological collections with relevant material. Maps were constructed to visualize the known distribution of each species in the country. There are 295 scarab beetle species (including 19 new country records) representing 106 genera in 7 families in El Salvador. Six precinctive species are known. Twenty-two species are discarded as occurring in El Salvador, either because they are not valid species or because of misidentifications or dubious records. This work is the first approach to knowing the Scarabaeoidea in El Salvador, a territory that is usually considered of no importance for the conservation of regional biodiversity due to its small area, high rate of deforestation, and overpopulation. The results of this work reinforce the need for biological prospecting in the territory to know, conserve, and protect the remaining biodiversity.

What causes deforestation and land cover change in Riau Province, Indonesia

Riau has experienced massive forest conversion and the highest deforestation rate in Sumatra and the world. International and local level deforestation and land cover change studies in Riau already exist. However, understanding the drivers and actors behind this land cover change remains challenging, partly because the studies are spread across many domains and disciplines. We provide a literature review of 101 studies identifying the causes and actors of land cover change in Riau Province. Our review shows that oil palm and timber plantations are the most prominent direct causes. The lack of capacity and policy failures were the most prominent underlying causes of deforestation and land cover change. Our review also shows that companies and smallholders are the main actors in the direct causes. Central and local governments are the main actors in the underlying causes of deforestation and land cover change. Our literature review shows knowledge gaps that can be filled by classifying the causes and roles of actors in deforestation and land cover change.

The extirpation of medium and large mammal species from the Ehotilé Islands National Park, south-eastern Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract In West Africa, high deforestation rates and poaching have induced dramatic declines of mammal’s populations and local extinctions. Due to their isolation, island species are more vulnerable than mainland species. The premises of that scenario are perceptible in the Ehotilé Islands National Park, south-eastern Côte d’Ivoire, but have not been documented. This study aimed to update the diversity and conservation status of medium and large mammals in that protected area. Several surveys were conducted between 2019 and 2021, using ethno-zoological interviews and individual surveys with local populations, as well as reconnaissance walks and camera trapping to collect data on the presence or absence of mammals. From interviews with local populations and literature review, a list of 27 species of mammals that were potentially present in the park in the past was established. Most “lost” species are large mammals, especially primates that are globally threatened. A total of 11 species were pictorially identified, including two Near threatened species (Aonyx capensis and Hydrictis maculicollis) and one Vulnerable species (Cercopithecus lowei). The study confirms a trend of population decline and the erosion of mammal diversity in the park, hence highlighting the need for urgent conservation actions.

Power through trees. State territorialization by means of privatization and ‘agrobizforestry’ in Côte d'Ivoire

International pressure related to deforestation in the context of climate change and national issues concerning the sustainability of cocoa production have become increasingly prominent on political and media agendas. In 2018, Côte d'Ivoire, the world's largest cocoa producer that has experienced high deforestation rates, adopted a new forest policy willing to transform its more than 75% degraded gazetted forests into agroforests. According to state law, cash crops are prohibited in gazetted forests that are dedicated to logging but most have been ‘illegally’ occupied by people, encouraged by national economic development policies. The new legislation that created the agroforest concept, now authorizes agriculture but only in the form of agroforestry in gazetted forests as a way to regain forest cover. Agroforests must preferably be developed by private companies. This article is part of an analysis of environmental policies related to reforestation and agricultural transition, from a political science perspective. It suggests instrumentalization of socio-environmental issues and agroforestry for political and economic purposes. The article analyzes how and why agribusinesses are designated as being the best placed to implement a socio-ecological transition and the social and ecological consequences of the designation. This privatization is part of a context of disavowal by a state institution responsible for the management of gazetted forests in a neoliberal context, but in no way represents a withdrawal or loss of power by the state. The Ivorian state is using private intermediaries to regain control over these gazetted forests, contested territories over which it lost control.

THREAT OF CHARCOAL PROCESSING TO TREE SPECIES DIVERSITY IN OTEMEWO COMMUNITY, OKPE, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

The status of tree species used for charcoal processing and its effect on tree diversity in Otemewo community, Okpe Delta State were assessed. Semistructured questionnaire guide and random sampling technique were used to collect data on the trees species. Besides five points likert rating scale on species preference for charcoal, and paired t-test was used to determine the implication of tree species preference for charcoal production on tree diversity. A major charcoal processing site was selected for the study. Also samplings were done in two randomly selected sample plots. Twenty eight (28) tree species belonging to 13 different families were cited as trees preferred for charcoal processing. Meanwhile, only ten (10) species: B. cogolensis, E. cylindricum, I. gabonensis, K. senegalensis, L. alata, L. lanceolata, P. africana, P. macrophylla, T. orientalisand U. guineensis of the twenty eight (28) trees recorded as charcoal-producing species existed in the two sample plots, and were comparatively rare. Diversity indices reveal that one of the two randomly selected plots was richer in tree species than the other. Consequently, it was observed that high rate of deforestation and unsustainable collection pattern of trees for charcoal threatens forest ecosystem and negatively affected the diversity of tree species in the area. Therefore, strategies that would ensure tree species management and by extension the entire forest ecosystem of the area were suggested.

Deforestation-Free Commodity Supply Chains: Myth or Reality?

Since the early 2000s, many private companies, public-private coalitions, and governments have committed to remove deforestation from commodity supply chains. Despite these zero-deforestation commitments (ZDCs), high rates of deforestation persist and may even be increasing. On the upside, a few region- and commodity-specific ZDCs have contributed to reductions by up to hundreds of thousands of hectares of deforestation, with mixed evidence on associated leakage. ZDCs have also spurred progress in monitoring, traceability, and awareness of deforestation. On the downside, as currently implemented, supply chain initiatives only cover a small share of tropical deforestation. Government- and company-led ZDCs are just two components of broader policy mixes aimed at reducing deforestation. To be more impactful, ZDCs needs to cover entire biomes, supply bases of companies, and export and domestic markets, with special attention not to exclude marginal producers.

Evaluating the Socioeconomic Factors on Deforestation in Northern Pakistan: A Study on Existing Economic Incentive Tools for Reducing Deforestation

Deforestation is a common threat to the environment that has a substantial impact on the forest’s distribution across territorial boundaries. It is simply defined as the loss of forest cover, which most commonly occurs as a result of deforestation for various reasons. Pakistan is among those countries which have a very high deforestation rate. This paper analyzes the various socioeconomic factors which cause deforestation in northern Pakistan and the existing economic incentive tools for reducing deforestation. Data collected from 602 respondents were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a logistic regression model, while the Likert scale was used to determine the mean socioeconomic factor score encouraging deforestation and the economic incentives used to reduce deforestation. Gender distributions showed that the majority (65.9%) of the respondents were male while 34.1% were female. On family size, the majority of the respondents (66.8%) had a family size of 5–8. On age, between 21–25 years (46.0%) recorded the highest number. The average age of the respondents was 24 years. Educationally, 13.8% had a master’s education, 11.1% a bachelor’s education, 4.3% no formal education, 5.6% a higher education level, meaning master’s or PhD students, 56.1% had a primary education, and 9.0% had a secondary education. On occupation, the majority (50.4%) of the respondents were involved in farming as their main occupation. On income, the major income recorded a mean of 25,000 net, while the minor income recorded a mean of 15,500 net. Setting the forest ablaze, increasing farming activities, low level of literacy, increasing timber mafia, growing population, and poverty were the socioeconomic factors found. The economic incentives listed were for forest crop subsidies, an enhanced system of taxes on exploited forest products, the acquisition of well-monitored hunting licenses, alternative job opportunities, credit provision, and a limited ban on round log exports. The results of the logit regression established that rewarding socioeconomic factors were statistically significant variables at (p < 0.05). Conclusively, if adequately controlled and applied, economic incentives can be an important instrument for reducing deforestation. Therefore, deforestation activities cannot be entirely eradicated but they can be reduced to the barest minimum by properly enforcing forest policies in terms of efficient forest policing. The goals of this study are to help with the implementation of appropriate policies and decision-making in forest management, as well as to provide a foundation for future scenario analysis of deforestation potential or to investigate potential environmental and human implications.

In the Question of Geospatial Information Data Use in the Forestry Legislation Making in Indonesia

The high rate of deforestation and many forest disputes in Indonesia show that forest management in Indonesia is not based on the principles of good forest governance. It also shows that there is still a lack of attention to the aspect of sustainable forest development which focuses on a balanced sustainability condition between the three forest functions (production, ecology, and socio-economic functions). Geospatial Information is expected to be the solution to help provide an accurate data and information which mapping forest development in accordance with the conditions of each forest area, so that the three functions can operate coherently. Furthermore, with the presence of integrated geospatial data, it can be used as a tool in policy formulation, decision making, and/or dispute resolution in the forestry sector. This paper applies empirical juridical research consisting participatory methods through discussions and interviews with related parties. In practice, the legal materials are firstly collected by using inventory and documentation. Then, it’s completed by interviews and Focus Group Discussion data. Moreover, it also applies statutory, conceptual, and case approaches. This paper highlights the use of geospatial information data in the forestry legislation making in Indonesia. Hence, this paper will present new information about the model of forestry dispute resolution based on geospatial information.

The effects of the synergy of community and government management practices on forest reserves in Ghana: the case of Mpameso forest

ABSTRACT There is increasing evidence of the high deforestation rate of Ghana’s forest reserves as a result of non-proper management. This study focused on deepening the understanding of the prospects and challenges in the management of the Mpameso Forest Reserve in Ghana. Based on a qualitative study, major stakeholders such as traditional heads, community members, and members of the forestry department were interviewed. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results show that respondents were aware of the relevance of the forest reserve. Though there is a collaborative effort between the forestry commission, the chiefs, and the communities, challenges such as a lack of collaboration between chiefs and the forestry department in the district, and encroachment by community members, among other factors, affected the sustainability of the forest reserve.. The study recommends an alternative livelihood should be provided, consideration for the creation of an ecotourism park, and intensification of the enforcement of laws protecting the forest reserve and its sanctions.

Assessment of change in forests land, carbon stock and carbon emissions of KPK, Pakistan for past three decades using geospatial techniques

Abstract Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation is a mechanism to cut down GHG emissions and protect the threatened forest ecosystems. Pakistan is suffering from high forest degradation and deforestation rates, but recent plantations under BTTAP have created a significant impact. This study was designed to identify the LULC changes, forest sequestration and emissions from forest degradation in the forest hub districts (Malakand, Mardan, Lower Dir and Upper Dir) of KPK, Pakistan using Landsat imageries. LULC changes were analyzed from 1990 to 2020. In addition, the amount of carbon sequestration and emissions from forest degradation were also calculated. Results of the analysis showed forest area reduction from 1990 to 2009, followed by a sharp increase in the next decade (2010–2020) by 56%. Around 836 km2 of land was found to be covered with forests during BTTAP. The net change was a 32% increase in forest land over three decades. The study offers important information which environment managers and decision-makers can utilize to encourage the plantation of trees and save existing forests in the country to combat climate change.

Is deforestation needed for growth? Testing the EKC hypothesis for Latin America

The current climate change debate puts forest conservation and halting deforestation at the forefront of the social and political agenda. This paper analyzes the relationship between forested area and economic growth for a sample of 19 Latin American countries. The selected region has extensive forested areas, but also high rates of deforestation, which makes it a crucial area for reversing deforestation trends. The Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis for deforestation is tested for the period 1991–2014, taking environmental damage to the forest cover as an indicator, measured through two variables: the forested area per capita and a comparison to the country's total area. The methodology used applied regressions by panel data, using a semiparametric technique, as well as the generalized method of moments quantile-regression. Obtained results support the hypothesis, although the positive effects of economic growth on forestation tends to disappear, as the income levels become higher. More specifically, the quantile regression shows a positive, growing relationship between forested area per capita and economic growth (from a threshold point) that tends to be softer in more forested areas. Meanwhile, the U-shaped relationship supported when the forested area is compared to the total area tends to reach the maximum value. Therefore, the positive effects of economic growth on forestation tend to disappear, this being more especially observed in the most forested areas.

Can supply chain laws prevent deforestation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Indonesia?

There is a new trend toward public supply chain-related laws which demand information from companies on imported products. The European Union's (EU) Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and Timber Regulation (EUTR) exemplify this new type of law. In both cases, companies have to prevent deforestation in their supply chains. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Indonesia, both among those countries with the world's highest deforestation rates, support supply chain laws on paper, but there are serious implementation deficits in practice. Using a tripartite framework developed by Cashore and Stone, our study addresses this alleged contradiction and explains deficits inherent in the laws based on the analysis of policy documents, expert interviews and field research. We find that companies take advantage of opportunities to shift exports to less regulating countries. EU member states exercise their purchasing power too cautiously over intermediary (manufacturing) countries in the supply chain, especially China. Finally, despite possibilities of public action, sanctioning is largely left to the private sector.

Time Series Analysis of Economic Factors Influencing Deforestation in Tanzania

Climate change is a significant contributor to environmental harm and the rise in Atmospheric carbon dioxide, which raises the earth’s surface temperature. As forests are the primary mechanism for absorbing carbon dioxide gas and protecting the earth from global warming and unpredictable weather patterns, a high rate of deforestation is to blame for this. In this study, the economic drivers causing deforestation in Tanzania include per capita income, per capita purchasing power, inflation rate, per capita purchasing power, poverty rate, and electricity consumption are investigated. Autoregressive models with exogenous variables (VARX (1) – VARX (3)) models are formulated to analyze the effect of economic variables and forecast the rate of deforestation in Tanzania. The time series data used from 1994 to 2014 were collected in Tanzania, nature of the data suggests the increase in the rate of deforestation as time progresses. In this study, the best model VARX (3, 0) was obtained, and the relationship between the variables through granger causality was obtained. Also, forecasting was carried out for the next 10 years using the best model VARX (3, 0) and Kalman Filters. It was observed that economic variables, especially the poverty rate, have an impact on the rate of deforestation in Tanzania. Furthermore, the graph shows the increasing trend in the rate of deforestation in the coming years in Tanzania.

Assessment of Land Use and Land Cover Changes (LULC) in the North Talihya River Watershed (Lubero Territory, Eastern DR Congo)

On the Equator, the Talihya North watershed is a vast area of nearly 581.7 km2 that extends from the Cool Highlands on the Congo-Nile Crest in Lubero Territory to the Rift Valley in the Virunga National Park in Beni Territory. This vast territory has an agropastoral vocation. Indeed, agricultural activities combined with the high population density in this watershed generate modifications in the landscape structure. The objective of this paper is to study the dynamics of land use from 1987 to 2020. To achieve this, two Landsat TM+ and ETM+ images and one Sentinel-2 image were analyzed. After the classification of the images based on the Maximum Likelihood algorithm, this study shows that two processes are evident in the landscape of the North Talihya watershed: deforestation and savannization. Forests that occupied 253.11 km2 in 1987 have decreased to 201.12 km2 in 2001 and to 123.04 km2 in 2020. These area balances indicate that the natural forest formations in the North Talihya watershed have been converted primarily to croplands and fallows. The estimated annual deforestation rate between 1987 and 2020 is 2.18%. With this high rate of deforestation, mechanisms to restore degraded forest ecosystems in this watershed will need to be put in place. The sustainable management of residual forest ecosystems that have escaped human pressure is necessary for the conservation of biodiversity for future generations.

Impacto da certificação REDD+ nas taxas de desmatamento da RESEX Rio Preto-Jacundá na Amazônia

Abstract In Brazil, the Amazon’s role in regulating the Earth’s climate, resulting from the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere into biomass, it is threatened by high rates of deforestation. The impact of a REDD+ Project for forest conservation in the Rio Preto- Jacundá RESEX in Rondônia - RO was evaluated from the comparative analysis between deforestation that occurred before (2004-2012) and after the Project (2012-2020), on a local and regional scale (RO) based on data provided by the Amazon Deforestation Calculation Program (PRODES). The results showed that, from 2015 onwards there is a greater deforestation trend in the RESEX than in the state of RO and that, between 2016 and 2019, all deforestation occurred inside the Project limits. It was concluded that this REDD+ Project without proper regulation and government support has not been able to help to stop deforestation and, consequently, combat the urgent climate crisis that we face.

Analysis of The Effect of Deforestation Rates on Air Pollution Concentration and Land Surface Temperature Using Landsat-8 Imagery with Google Earth Engine (Case Study: East Kalimantan Province, 2019-2020)

The increase in population triggers an increase in deforestation rates. According to data from Ministry of Environment and Forestry, East Kalimantan’s highest deforestation rate reached 54.8 thousand hectares in 2018-2019. This study analyzed the effect of deforestation rates on air pollutant concentrations (SO2 and NO2) and land surface temperature (LST) in East Kalimantan in 2019-2020 with Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform using Landsat 8 Level 2 surface reflectance imagery. The TIR channel was converted into brightness temperature which further used as the input in LST estimation using Mono-Window Algorithm, SO2 estimation using Hasan Algorithm (2014), and NO2 estimation using Alseroury Algorithm (2015). During 2019-2020, the average LST value was 24.2 °C, which was increased by 2.0 °C from the previous year. The maximum NO2 concentration was 189.771 g/m3. The annual average NO2 concentration increased by 0.757 g/m³ from the previous year. The maximum concentration of SO2 was 0.521 ppm. The annual average SO2 concentration increased by 0.011 ppm from the previous year. To determine the effect of deforestation rates on the concentration of SO2, NO2 and LST, the Pearson correlation test was carried out. The correlation coefficient between deforestation rates and SO2 is R = 0.949 (very strong correlation); correlation coefficient between deforestation rates and NO2 is R = 0.889 (very strong correlation); and the correlation coefficient between the deforestation rates and the LST is R = 0.887 (very strong correlation). This shows that the higher deforestation rates, will caused in the higher concentration of SO2, NO2, and LST.

Under what conditions do payments for environmental services enable forest conservation in the Amazon? A realist synthesis

Payments for environmental services (PES) have been widely studied as one possible way to counter deforestation and support livelihoods. Given the high rates of deforestation in the Amazon region, it is important to study under which conditions PES have positive environmental and social outcomes. We contribute to this debate through a systematic review based on the Realist Evaluation framework. First, we review case studies to identify configurations of social-ecological factors (context), PES design and implementation (resource mechanisms), people's responses (reasoning mechanisms), and the results in terms of forest conservation and people's livelihoods (outcomes). Second, we develop a middle-range theory of how, for whom, and under what conditions PES in the Amazon achieve these results. After screening 972 articles in the SCOPUS, Scielo, and WorldCat databases, we reviewed 13 articles in-depth that contained all the elements (context-mechanism-outcomes) needed to identify these configurations. Our results show that PES in the Amazon generate positive environmental and social outcomes when they: (a) combine cash and in-kind incentives, (b) raise environmental awareness through capacity building, (c) engage socially and ethnically diverse stakeholders through equitable and inclusive approaches, (d) apply transparent spatial targeting, (e) guarantee strong conditionality through robust monitoring of compliance, and (f) guarantee stable delivery of payments.

The challenges of primate research and conservation in Paraguay


 
 
 The primate fauna of Paraguay consists of just five species (Sapajus cay, Alouatta caraya, Aotus azarae, Plecturocebus pallescens and Mico melanurus) and has been largely overlooked by the international primatological community. Not-withstanding, Paraguay currently has the second highest deforestation rate in Latin America and the threats facing Paraguayan primates are as severe as anywhere else on the continent. Primate conservation in Paraguay is complicated by the complete absence of a homegrown primatological research community and the country lacks the solid biological research foundation required for the development of robust management strategies. Only one university degree in biology is available in the country (with the Universidad Nacional de Asunción), and opportunities for postgraduate education in biological sciences require studying abroad, whilst the limited number of career opportunities upon graduation mean that those receiving such training frequently prefer to pursue their career elsewhere rather than return to the country to practice. No higher education courses in primatology are currently available in Paraguay. Fundación Para La Tierra (PLT) is a Paraguayan conservation and education NGO (80086144-2), founded in 2010. PLT focuses on conservation of Paraguay’s natural habitats through scientific research, community engagement and education, and implements Paraguay’s only long-term primatology research projects: the “Hooded Capuchin Project” conserving Sapajus cay in what little remains of the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest and the “Urban Howler Monkey Project” researching the behavioural ecology of Alouatta caraya inhabiting the city of Pilar. The PLT primate projects adopt a multi-faceted approach: long-term scientific research, training and supporting local people with an interest in primates, supervision of international students and environmental education in schools. In this article we will discuss the challenges of develop- ing such a project, and a vision for the future of primatology in Paraguay.
 
 

Effect of urbanization on energy balance and evapotranspiration in an Amazon–Cerrado transition region in Brazil

The Amazon–Cerrado transition region has a high rate of deforestation for agriculture, livestock, logging, and for the increase in urban areas of cities. The development of cities in this region in recent decades has increased the deforestation process and modified the local microclimate and the exchange of energy and water between the surface and the atmosphere. However, the magnitude of the change in energy and water exchanges due to urbanization is unknown for most Brazilian cities, especially in the Amazon–Cerrado region. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the spatiotemporal change in energy balance and in evapotranspiration (ET) patterns over three decades of urbanization in Sinop. The surface energy balance (SEB) and ET were estimated by the SEB algorithms for land with Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper images from the Sinop region, Mato Grosso, Brazil, in 1985, 2000, and 2010. The estimated SEB and ET were validated with measurements in a flux tower in the Amazon–Cerrado transition forest 50 km from the urban area of Sinop. The components of the SEB, except the soil/storage heat flux (G), had a strong correlation, and the ET had a moderate correlation with measurements in the flux tower. The surface albedo (asup), land surface temperature (LST), sensible heat flux (H), and G of the study area increased over the years, while the normalized difference vegetation index, latent heat flux (LE), and ET decreased over the years. Buildup and grassland areas had lower values of NDVI, Rn, LE, and ET and higher values of asup, LST, H, and G than forest areas. Therefore, the urbanization of Sinop has decreased available energy for ET and increased the energy to heat the air and soil.