Intact Forest Research Articles

Extratropical forests increasingly at risk due to lightning fires

Fires can be ignited by people or by natural causes, which are almost exclusively lightning strikes. Discriminating between lightning and anthropogenic fires is paramount when estimating impacts of changing socioeconomic and climatological conditions on fire activity. Here we use reference data of fire ignition locations, cause and burned area from seven world regions in a machine-learning approach to obtain a global attribution of lightning and anthropogenic ignitions as dominant fire ignition sources. We show that 77% (uncertainty expressed as one standard deviation = 8%) of the burned area in extratropical intact forests currently stems from lightning and that these areas will probably experience 11 to 31% more lightning per degree warming. Extratropical forests are of global importance for carbon storage. They currently experience high fire-related forest losses and have, per unit area, among the largest fire emissions on Earth. Future increases in lightning in intact forest may therefore compound the positive feedback loop between climate change and extratropical wildfires.

Amazonian secondary forests are greatly reducing fragmentation and edge exposure in old-growth forests

Restoration of tropical landscapes through the expansion of secondary forests is crucial for climate change mitigation and offers co-benefits for biodiversity. However, the strength of these benefits is influenced by the position of these secondary forests within the landscape. Recovery of both carbon stocks and biodiversity in secondary forests are enhanced by proximity to old-growth forests, and old-growth forests may benefit from secondary forests in return through buffering of edge effects and reduced fragmentation. However, to date there has been no biome-wide assessment of secondary forest location relative to old-growth forests. We mapped Amazonian secondary forests and explored their proximity to old-growth forests of different conditions. We then calculated the extent to which secondary forests buffer old-growth edge forest (<120 m from an edge) and the influence of secondary forests on fragmentation. In 2020, 41.2% of Amazonian secondary forest was directly adjacent to old-growth forest and 94.1% was within a fragment connected to old growth. However, adjacency and connectedness fell to 20.1% and 57.4% respectively when only considering extensive structurally intact old-growth forest. Secondary forests buffered 41.1% of old-growth edge forest and, when acting as corridors, reduced the total number of old-growth fragments by 2 million. Our results reveal the importance of understanding spatial context when examining the potential benefits of increasing secondary forest cover. Improved understanding of the benefits of locating secondary forests next to old-growth forests could support the development of more effective climate change mitigation and restoration strategies.

Using essential biodiversity variables to assess forest ecosystem integrity

IntroductionAn unprecedented amount of Earth Observations and in-situ data has become available in recent decades, opening up the possibility of developing scalable and practical solutions to assess and monitor ecosystems across the globe. Essential Biodiversity Variables are an example of the integration between Earth Observations and in-situ data for monitoring biodiversity and ecosystem integrity, with applicability to assess and monitor ecosystem structure, function, and composition. However, studies have yet to explore how such metrics can be organized in an effective workflow to create a composite Ecosystem Integrity Index and differentiate between local plots at the global scale.MethodsUsing available Essential Biodiversity Variables, we present and test a framework to assess and monitor forest ecosystem integrity at the global scale. We first defined the theoretical framework used to develop the workflow. We then measured ecosystem integrity across 333 forest plots of 5 km2. We classified the plots across the globe using two main categories of ecosystem integrity (Top and Down) defined using different Essential Biodiversity Variables.Results and discussion:We found that ecosystem integrity was significantly higher in forest plots located in more intact areas than in forest plots with higher disturbance. On average, intact forests had an Ecosystem Integrity Index score of 5.88 (CI: 5.53–6.23), whereas higher disturbance lowered the average to 4.97 (CI: 4.67–5.26). Knowing the state and changes in forest ecosystem integrity may help to deliver funding to priority areas that would benefit from mitigation strategies targeting climate change and biodiversity loss. This study may further provide decision- and policymakers with relevant information about the effectiveness of forest management and policies concerning forests. Our proposed method provides a flexible and scalable solution that facilitates the integration of essential biodiversity variables to monitor forest ecosystems.

Anthropogenic disturbance exacerbates resilience loss in the Amazon rainforests.

Uncovering the mechanisms that lead to Amazon forest resilience variations is crucial to predict the impact of future climatic and anthropogenic disturbances. Here, we apply a previously used empirical resilience metrics, lag-1 month temporal autocorrelation (TAC), to vegetation optical depth data in C-band (a good proxy of the whole canopy water content) in order to explore how forest resilience variations are impacted by human disturbances and environmental drivers in the Brazilian Amazon. We found that human disturbances significantly increase the risk of critical transitions, and that the median TAC value is ~2.4 times higher in human-disturbed forests than that in intact forests, suggesting a much lower resilience in disturbed forests. Additionally, human-disturbed forests are less resilient to land surface heat stress and atmospheric water stress than intact forests. Among human-disturbed forests, forests with a more closed and thicker canopy structure, which is linked to a higher forest cover and a lower disturbance fraction, are comparably more resilient. These results further emphasize the urgent need to limit deforestation and degradation through policy intervention to maintain the resilience of the Amazon rainforests.

Land Cover Change and Fragmentation Analysis in Sintang Regency, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

The increasing number of human populations and their needs have driven changes in forest cover to become infrastructure, agricultural land, and plantations. Sintang Regency has a natural forest structure upstream of the Kapuas River and the Kayan River, which the local community uses for transportation and sources of livelihood. In this study, we wanted to analyze the level of fragmentation in Sintang Regency. We used landcover data in the mapping periods of 2010, 2015, and 2020, with MoEF classification—fragmentation analysis using ArcGIS 10.6 and FRAGSTATS v4.2.1 software at class and patch levels analysis. The result showed decreased natural forest while estate crop and mining increased. As an impact of decreasing forest area, it also reduced the total core area and connectivity; the intact forest > 50,000 ha was isolated in 2020. The fragmentation of forests will impact reduced habitat for wildlife and loss of ecological function of the landscape.

Avian use of avocado farms and intact forest in the northern Sierra de Bahoruco, Dominican Republic

Avian use of avocado farms and intact forest in the northern Sierra de Bahoruco, Dominican Republic

Socio-Economic Value and Availability of Plant-Based Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) within the Charcoal Production Basin of the City of Lubumbashi (DR Congo)

The overexploitation of forest resources in the charcoal production basin of the city of Lubumbashi (DR Congo) is reducing the resilience of miombo woodlands and threatening the survival of the riparian as well as urban human populations that depend on it. We assessed the socio-economic value and availability of plant-based non-timber forest products NTFPs in the rural area of Lubumbashi through ethnobotanical (100 respondents) and socio-economic (90 respondents) interviews, supplemented with floristic inventories, in two village areas selected on the basis of the level of forest degradation. The results show that 60 woody species, including 46 in the degraded forest (Maksem) and 53 in the intact forest (Mwawa), belonging to 22 families are used as sources of NTFPs in both villages. Among these species, 25 are considered priority species. NTFPs are collected for various purposes, including handcrafting, hut building, and traditional medicine. Moreover, the ethnobotanical lists reveal a similarity of almost 75%, indicating that both local communities surveyed use the same species for collecting plant-based NTFPs despite differences in the level of degradation of the miombo woodlands in the two corresponding study areas. However, the plant-based NTFPs that are collected from miombo woodlands and traded in the urban markets have significant economic value, which ranges from USD 0.5 to USD 14.58 per kg depending on the species and uses. NTFPs used for handicraft purposes have a higher economic value than those used for other purposes. However, the sustainability of this activity is threatened due to unsustainable harvesting practices that include stem slashing, root digging, and bark peeling of woody species. Consequently, there is a low availability of plant-based NTFPs, particularly in the village area, where forest degradation is more advanced. It is imperative that policies for monitoring and regulating harvesting and promoting the sustainable management of communities’ plant-based NTFPs as a priority, be undertaken to maintain their resilience.

Satellite data reveals a recent increase in shifting cultivation and associated carbon emissions in Laos

Although shifting cultivation is the major land use type in Laos, the spatial-temporal patterns and the associated carbon emissions of shifting cultivation in Laos are largely unknown. This study provides a nationwide analysis of the spatial-temporal patterns of shifting cultivation and estimations of the associated carbon emissions in Laos over the last three decades. This study found that shifting cultivation has been expanding and intensifying in Laos, especially in the last 5 years. The newly cultivated land from 2016 to 2020 accounted for 4.5% (±1.2%) of the total land area of Laos. Furthermore, the length of fallow periods has been continuously declining, indicating that shifting cultivation is becoming increasingly intensive. Combining biomass derived from Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation and shifting cultivation maps and area estimates, we found that the net carbon emissions from shifting cultivation declined in 2001–2015 but increased in 2016–2020. The largest carbon source is conversion from intact forests to shifting cultivation, which contributed to 89% of the total emissions from 2001 to 2020. In addition, there were increased emissions from intensified use of fallow lands. This research provides useful information for policymakers in Laos to understand the changes in shifting cultivation and improve land use management. This study not only supports Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation reporting for Laos but also provides a methodology for tracking carbon emissions and removals of shifting cultivation.

Increased atmospheric moisture demand induced a reduction in the water content of boreal forest during the past three decades

Widespread forest mortality has been observed in recent years which may be related to the forest water content. Changes in atmospheric demand for water (vapour pressure deficit, VPD) and soil moisture due to climate change affect plants in terrestrial ecosystems. Hence, it is crucial to determine the impact of variations in soil-atmosphere water content on forest water content to enhance our predictive capability of future forest dynamics. Here, we explored the dynamics of forest water content in the boreal forest (BFC) based on remote sensing Ku-band vegetation optical depth (VOD) data and found a declining trend from 1988 to 2016. The study revealed a strong negative correlation between VPD and VOD and the negative trend of BFC water content increased with increasing annual VPD. Further analysis found a negative correlation between monthly transpiration and VOD, and a positive correlation between canopy conductance and VOD. The relationship exhibited greater significance in regions characterized by a more rapid increase in VPD suggesting elevated VPD led to a higher transpiration, resulting in a decline in forest water content and subsequent plant physiological regulation. This occurred consistently in intact and managed boreal forest, implying common climatic drivers on a large scale. The decrease of annual mean VOD was slower in the intact boreal forest than in the managed forest, which may be due to the diversity and richness of the intact forest. The findings enhanced the understanding of the dynamics of forest water content under atmospheric drought caused by climate change, which requires the adoption of strategies to prevent forest mortality.

Even after armed conflict, the environmental quality of Indigenous Peoples' lands in biodiversity hotspots surpasses that of non-Indigenous lands

Indigenous Peoples lands cover over a fifth of the world's land surface and support high levels of biodiversity. However, for centuries Indigenous Peoples have suffered from deprivation, often dispossession, and even cultural genocide, a process continuing today in some regions. Biodiversity hotspots, global areas of high endemicity that are heavily threatened by habitat loss and other human activities are also affected by conflict. Although covering only 2.4 % of the world's surface, over 80 % of armed conflicts occurred in biodiversity hotspots between 1950 and 2000. Given that many hotspots overlap with Indigenous Peoples' lands, we asked whether the co-occurrence of Indigenous Peoples' lands and high ecological integrity, measured by using Intact Forest Landscapes as units which still contain significant biological diversity, and the Human Footprint as a proxy for anthropogenic impacts, increased the persistence of biodiversity in hotspots where there has been armed conflict. Our results show that, within biodiversity hotspots, armed conflict was more likely to occur on Indigenous Peoples' lands than non-Indigenous lands, yet environmental damage and anthropogenic impacts were both lower. We suggest that Indigenous Peoples have been able to moderate ecosystem degradation processes before, during, and after armed conflict because of their strong ties to their lands and their determination to defend their rights and territories. We argue that recognition and support for the efforts of Indigenous Peoples to protect their lands is not only socially just but also essential for meeting the now pressing global post-2020 conservation targets.

Consumed from within? Social and ecological drivers of internal clearings in Ethiopian Orthodox church forests

AbstractIn a largely deforested landscape, thousands of small pockets of indigenous forest remain in Ethiopia's northern highlands. These “church forests” are maintained by Ethiopian Orthodox church communities, and they provide valuable reserves of indigenous species diversity and ecosystem services. However, there are important trade‐offs between the different ecosystem services church forests provide: the size of community‐made clearings within church forests used for prayer and other church services have to be balanced with services derived from intact forest cover and dense vegetation. This research uses a spatial, social–ecological model to examine patterns in church forest size and vegetation density across 2743 church forests in the Amhara Region. Results suggest that larger internal clearings correlate with larger forest area, and clearings also scale with population size. We also find that greater elevation and distance to population centers are associated with higher church forest density, while greater community wealth is associated with reduced forest density and area. These trends initially suggest that internal clearings can support conservation efforts, but they are nuanced by prevalent non‐native Eucalyptus planting and increasing internal deforestation for graveyard space for wealthier communities. Additionally, we find that internal clearings are an important source of omitted variable bias in estimating the relationship between density and area in church forests. As a consequence, incorporating church clearings into social–ecological models leads to meaningful differences in church forest density and area estimates. Ultimately, this study suggests that church forests in Ethiopia may be sustained rather than consumed from within.

Mapping tropical forest degradation with deep learning and Planet NICFI data

Tropical rainforests from the Brazilian Amazon are frequently degraded by logging, fire, edge effects and minor unpaved roads. However, mapping the extent of degradation remains challenging because of the lack of frequent high-spatial resolution satellite observations, occlusion of understory disturbances, quick recovery of leafy vegetation, and limitations of conventional reflectance-based remote sensing techniques. Here, we introduce a new approach to map forest degradation caused by logging, fire, and road construction based on deep learning (DL), henceforth called DL-DEGRAD, using very high spatial (4.77 m) and bi-annual to monthly temporal resolution of the Planet NICFI imagery. We applied DL-DEGRAD model over forests of the state of Mato Grosso in Brazil to map forest degradation with attributions from 2016 to 2021 at six-month intervals. A total of 73,744 images (256 × 256 pixels in size) were visually interpreted and manually labeled with three semantic classes (logging, fire, and roads) to train/validate a U-Net model. We predicted the three classes over the study area for all dates, producing accumulated degradation maps biannually. Estimates of accuracy and areas of degradation were performed using a probability design-based stratified random sampling approach (n = 2678 samples) and compared it with existing operational data products at the state level. DL-DEGRAD performed significantly better than all other data products in mapping logging activities (F1-score = 68.9) and forest fire (F1-score = 75.6) when compared with the Brazil's national maps (SIMEX, DETER, MapBiomas Fire) and global products (UMD-GFC, TMF, FireCCI, FireGFL, GABAM, MCD64). Pixel-based spatial comparison of degradation areas showed the highest agreement with DETER and SIMEX as Brazil official data products derived from visual interpretation of Landsat imagery. The U-Net model applied to NICFI data performed as closely to a trained human delineation of logged and burned forests, suggesting the methodology can readily scale up the mapping and monitoring of degraded forests at national to regional scales. Over the state of Mato Grosso, the combined effects of logging and fire are degrading the remaining intact forests at an average rate of 8443 km2 year−1 from 2017 to 2021. In 2020, a record degradation area of 13,294 km2 was estimated from DL-DEGRAD, which was two times the areas of deforestation.

Extending the conservation impact of great ape research: Flagship species sites facilitate biodiversity assessments and land preservation.

To inform regional conservation planning, we assessed mammalian and avian biodiversity in the Djéké Triangle, which is an intact forest with long-term research and tourism focused on western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). This critical region serves as a conservation conduit between the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) in the Republic of Congo and the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in Central African Republic. Wildlife inventories were conducted to determine if biodiversity in the Djéké Triangle (initially part of a logging concession) was equivalent to the NNNP. Camera traps (CTs) were deployed to estimate species richness, relative abundance, naïve occupancy, and activity patterns of medium-to-large species in mixed species and monodominant Gilbertiodendron forests that comprise the majority of regional terra firma. Species inventories were collected from CTs positioned on a grid and at termite nests throughout the Djéké Triangle and compared to CTs placed in the Goualougo Triangle located within the NNNP. From 10,534 camera days at 65 locations, we identified 34 mammal and 16 bird species. Allaying concerns of wildlife depletion, metrics of species richness in the Djéké Triangle surpassed those of the Goualougo Triangle. Many species were observed to occur across habitats, while others showed habitat specificity, with termite mounds indicated as an important microhabitat feature. Our comparisons of animal activity budgets in different habitat types provide important reference information for other populations and contexts. In conclusion, this study provided empirical evidence of the high conservation value of this region that contributed to increasing the protected status of the Djéké Triangle.

Sensitivity of South American tropical forests to an extreme climate anomaly

The tropical forest carbon sink is known to be drought sensitive, but it is unclear which forests are the most vulnerable to extreme events. Forests with hotter and drier baseline conditions may be protected by prior adaptation, or more vulnerable because they operate closer to physiological limits. Here we report that forests in drier South American climates experienced the greatest impacts of the 2015–2016 El Niño, indicating greater vulnerability to extreme temperatures and drought. The long-term, ground-measured tree-by-tree responses of 123 forest plots across tropical South America show that the biomass carbon sink ceased during the event with carbon balance becoming indistinguishable from zero (−0.02 ± 0.37 Mg C ha−1 per year). However, intact tropical South American forests overall were no more sensitive to the extreme 2015–2016 El Niño than to previous less intense events, remaining a key defence against climate change as long as they are protected.

Variation in sediment characteristics between canopy gap and surrounding forest in Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam

This study presented the difference in the sediments under a large gap formed by the Durian typhoon in 2006 and its surrounding intact forest in Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam. Twelve plots previously settled in the original gap and its surrounding forest were used to collect sediments in the dry and wet season in 2019 to assess the difference in sediment properties and nutritional state caused by the self-recovery of the vegetation. Sediment temperature and pH were measured in field, while the contents of total organic carbon (Corg) and total nitrogen (Ntot) were subsequently quantified in the chemical laboratory. Sediment temperature, salinity, and pH between the gap and the surrounding forest were not statistically different. The variation of Corg concentration in the gap sediments seemingly increased with depth from 1–15 cm in the dry season. The Ntot in the gap sediments showed that it was continuously consumed in the underlying sediments during both seasons. In conclusion, the variation in vegetation composition between the gap and its surrounding forest was responsible for the differences in sediment C and N concentrations.

Surface Energy Dynamics and Canopy Structural Properties in Intact and Disturbed Forests in the Southern Amazon

AbstractThe Brazilian Amazon has been a focus of land development with large swaths of forests converted to agriculture. Forest degradation by selective logging and fires has accompanied the agricultural frontier and has resulted in significant impacts on Amazonian ecosystems. Changes in forest structure resulting from forest disturbances have large impacts on the surface energy balance, including on land surface temperature (LST) and evapotranspiration (ET). This study's objective is to assess the effects of forest disturbances on water fluxes and forest structure in a transitional forest site in the Southern Amazon. We used ET and LST products from MODIS and Landsat 8 and GEDI‐derived forest structure data to address our research questions. We found that disturbances induced seasonal water stress, more pronounced in croplands/pastures than in forests (differences up to 20% in the dry season), and more pronounced in second‐growth and recently burned areas than in logged and intact forests (differences up to 12% in the dry season). Moreover, ET and LST were negatively related, with more consistent relationships across disturbance classes in the dry season (R2: 0.41–0.87) than in the wet season (R2: 0.18–0.49). Forest and cropland or pasture classes showed contrasting relationships in the dry season. Finally, we found that forest structure exhibited stronger relationships with ET and LST in the most disturbed forests (R2: 0.01–0.43) than in the least disturbed forests (R2 &lt; 0.05). Our findings help to elucidate degraded forests functioning under a changing climate and to improve estimates of water and energy fluxes in Amazonian degraded forests.

Habitat modification destabilizes spatial associations and persistence of Neotropical carnivores

Spatial relationships between sympatric species underpin biotic interactions, structure ecological communities, and maintain ecosystem health. However, the resilience of interspecific spatial associations to human habitat modification remains largely unknown, particularly in tropical regions where anthropogenic impacts are often greatest. We applied multi-state multi-species occurrence models to camera trap data across nine tropical landscapes in Colombia to understand how prominent threats to forest ecosystems influence Neotropical carnivore occurrence and interspecific spatial associations, with implications for biotic interactions. We show that carnivore occurrence represents a delicate balance between local environmental conditions and interspecific interactions that can be compromised in areas of extensive habitat modification. The stability of carnivore spatial associations depends on forest cover to mediate antagonistic encounters with apex predators and structurally intact forests to facilitate coexistence between competing mesocarnivores. Notably, we demonstrate that jaguars play an irreplaceable role in spatially structuring mesocarnivore communities, providing novel evidence on their role as keystone species. With increasing global change, conserving both the extent and quality of tropical forests is imperative to support carnivores and preserve the spatial associations that underpin ecosystem stability and resilience.

Prioritizing global tall forests toward the 30 × 30 goals.

The Global Deal for Nature sets an ambitious goal to protect 30% of Earth's land and ocean by 2030. The 30 × 30 initiative is a way to allocate conservation resources and extend protection to conserve vulnerable and underprotected ecosystems while reducing carbon emissions to combat climate change. However, most prioritization methods for identifying high-value conservation areas are based on thematic attributes and do not consider vertical habitat structure. Global tall forests represent a rare vertical habitat structure that harbors high species richness in various taxonomic groups and is associated with large amounts of aboveground biomass. Global tall forests should be prioritized when planning global protected areas toward reaching the 30 × 30 goals. We examined the spatial distribution of global tall forests based on the Global Canopy Height 2020 product. We defined global tall forests as areas with the average canopy height above 3 thresholds (20, 25, and 30m). We quantified the spatial distribution and protection level of global tall forests in high-protection zones, where the 30 × 30 goals are being met or are within reach, and low-protection zones, where there is a low chance of reaching 30 × 30 goals. We quantified the protection level by computing the percentage of global tall forest area protected based on the 2017 World Database on Protected Areas. We also determined the global extent and protection level of undisturbed, mature, tall forests based on the 2020 Global Intact Forest Landscapes mask. In most cases, the percentage of protection decreased as forest height reached the top strata. In the low-protection zones, <30% of forests were protected in almost all tall forest strata. In countries such as Brazil, tall forests had a higher percentage of protection (consistently >30%) compared to forests of lower height, presenting a more effective conservation model than in countries such as the United States, where forest protection was almost uniformly <30% across height strata. Our results show an urgent need to target forest conservation in the greatest height strata, particularly in high-protection areas, where most global tall forests are found. Vegetation vertical structure can inform the decision-making process toward the 30 × 30 goals because it can be used to identify areas of high conservation value for biodiversity protection which also contribute to carbon sequestration.

Does age matter? Unravelling the effects of replanted mangrove forests on the total ecosystem carbon stocks

Mangrove replanting is a fundamental approach for restoring the ecosystem services in the mangrove ecosystems. This study assesses and compares the total ecosystem carbon stock (TECS) in different stand ages of replanted mangrove forests (1, 2, 5, 9, 10 and 21 years old and an Intact/Undisturbed Forest as the control) in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The preferred species for planting are Rhizophora mucronata, R. apiculata and Bruguiera parviflora, while the Intact Forest only has one species, Avicennia marina. Most sites recorded additional species recruits after a few years. The study determines the total ecosystem carbon stock (TEC) based on the above-ground standing trees, below-ground, dead wood and soil, uses the established allometric equations to calculate the biomass and carbon stock in vegetation, and determines the soil carbon using the LI method. In general, the results showed a linear relationship between the TECS and stand age (R=0.86, y=70.993x + 353.51). The ten-year-old stand had the highest TECS (875.79 Mg C ha −1), the one-year-old had the lowest (376.91 Mg C ha −1), and the Intact Forest was moderate at 530.57 Mg C ha −1. In all cases, soil contributed the highest percentage of 75%–98% to the TECS. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that the primary determiners of the TECS are the stand age, followed by mangrove tree structure and soil carbon accumulation capacity.

Eyes from the sky: Application of satellite-based indices to assess vegetation casualty on Grand Bahama Island one year post-Hurricane Dorian

In the last two decades, major hurricanes have devastated the forest landscape of Grand Bahama. To capture the extent of the pine forest loss on Grand Bahama, we used satellite-based indices (NDVI, NDMI, and NBR) from Landsat and Sentinel-2 images and the support vector machine algorithm to estimate vegetation casualty pre- and post-Hurricane Dorian. We estimated that from 2004 to 2020, Grand Bahama lost 90.9% and 58.6% of its pine and mangrove forests, respectively. In the 15 years before Hurricane Dorian (2004–2019), stressors that included three major hurricanes (Hurricane Jeanne, Frances, and Wilma) resulted in a 44.5% (246.0 km2) loss of the pine forest vegetation on the island. Later, Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 tropical cyclone, made landfall in Grand Bahama in 2019 and resulted in further loss of pine vegetation (46.3% of the original vegetation [256.1 km2]) and more than half of the mangrove forests after flooding 67.0% (919.3 km2) of the island. Although mean NDVI and NDMI began to exhibit pre-hurricane seasonal patterns half a year after Hurricane Dorian struck, their values remained abated one year following the storm.To account for the effects of seasonal fires, we evaluated pine vegetation for evidence of forest fires during the dry and wet cycles of the year from 2018 to 2020. We found that seasonal forest fires temporarily reduced the pine forest understory vegetation but minimally impacted the pine vegetation between the reported years. The total area of forest impacted by fires was 11.3%. These low-intensity fires burned 67.3 km2 (22.5%; 2018), 31.8 km2 (10.6%; 2019), and 21.3 km2 (7.1%; 2020) of the intact mature pine forest (299.5 km2) pre- and immediately post-Hurricane Dorian. Even though we were able to detect and map areas of pine regeneration in previously hurricane-killed pine forest, Hurricane Dorian eliminated these young pines. Overall, Grand Bahama experience a significant loss of its forest after the major hurricanes of 2004, 2005, and 2019. This research reports new findings on hurricane-related damage to the pine forest ecosystem in Grand Bahama, providing valuable information regarding the ecological consequences of severe hurricanes on these types of forests.