Tropical Forest Loss Research Articles

Cultural homegarden management practices mediate arthropod communities in Indonesia

Tropical forest loss and transformation to agroecosystems have serious impacts on biodiversity, associated ecosystem services and the livelihood of local people. The high crop plant biodiversity and low intensity management in many homegardens could play an important role in the preservation of biodiversity in modified landscapes, as well as sustain food security of low income households. In this study, we focused on the role of the owner’s cultural background as migrants (from the island of Java) or non-migrants (local residents) for homegarden characteristics, such as size, management diversification, and crop species richness, and their effect on arthropod communities in Jambi province, Indonesia. Vane traps, pitfall traps and sweep netting were used to survey the arthropod communities, in particular bees and wasps, in 24 homegardens. Our results show that the native Jambi locals used a smaller number of management practices and had smaller homegardens than the Javanese transmigrants, whereas crop species richness did not differ. Management diversification and crop species richness were positively related to arthropod abundance as well as species richness of bees and wasps, presumably due to the enhanced homegarden heterogeneity. Our findings suggest that the cultural practices of migrant versus non-migrant land-use managers, which is usually neglected in agroecology, can be a major determinant of management practices shaping community structure and services of beneficial arthropods.

Cacao Cultivation under Diverse Shade Tree Cover Allows High Carbon Storage and Sequestration without Yield Losses.

One of the main drivers of tropical forest loss is their conversion to oil palm, soy or cacao plantations with low biodiversity and greatly reduced carbon storage. Southeast Asian cacao plantations are often established under shade tree cover, but are later converted to non-shaded monocultures to avoid resource competition. We compared three co-occurring cacao cultivation systems (3 replicate stands each) with different shade intensity (non-shaded monoculture, cacao with the legume Gliricidia sepium shade trees, and cacao with several shade tree species) in Sulawesi (Indonesia) with respect to above- and belowground biomass and productivity, and cacao bean yield. Total biomass C stocks (above- and belowground) increased fivefold from the monoculture to the multi-shade tree system (from 11 to 57 Mg ha-1), total net primary production rose twofold (from 9 to 18 Mg C ha-1 yr-1). This increase was associated with a 6fold increase in aboveground biomass, but only a 3.5fold increase in root biomass, indicating a clear shift in C allocation to aboveground tree organs with increasing shade for both cacao and shade trees. Despite a canopy cover increase from 50 to 93%, cacao bean yield remained invariant across the systems (variation: 1.1–1.2 Mg C ha-1 yr-1). The monocultures had a twice as rapid leaf turnover suggesting that shading reduces the exposure of cacao to atmospheric drought, probably resulting in greater leaf longevity. Thus, contrary to general belief, cacao bean yield does not necessarily decrease under shading which seems to reduce physical stress. If planned properly, cacao plantations under a shade tree cover allow combining high yield with benefits for carbon sequestration and storage, production system stability under stress, and higher levels of animal and plant diversity.

Proximal and Distal Predictors of the Spider Monkey's Stress Levels in Fragmented Landscapes.

The rapid loss, fragmentation and degradation of tropical forests threaten the survival of many animal species. However, the way in which these phenomena affect animal health has been poorly explored, thus limiting the design of appropriate conservation strategies. To address this, here we identified using linear mixed models the effect of proximal (diet, activity pattern, hunting and logging) and distal (sum of the basal areas of fruiting-tree species [SBAFS], landscape forest cover and degree of forest fragmentation) variables over fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) levels–hormones associated with animal health and fitness–of six groups of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) inhabiting six landscapes with different spatial structures in Mexico. Proximal variables showed a stronger predictive power over fGCMs than distal. In this sense, increases in travel time, the occurrence of hunting, and reductions in rest time and fruit consumption resulted in higher fGCM levels. Regarding distal variables, increases in SBAFS were negatively related to fGCM levels, thus suggesting that food scarcity increases stress hormone levels. Nevertheless, contrary to theoretical expectations, spider monkeys living in smaller tracts of forest spent less time travelling, but the same time feeding on fruit as those in more forested areas. The lower net energy return associated with this combination of factors would explain why, contrary to theoretical expectations, increased forest cover was associated with increased levels of fGCMs in these groups. Our study shows that, at least in the short term, spider monkeys in fragmented landscapes do not always present higher levels of stress hormones compared to those inhabiting continuous forest, and the importance of preserving fruit sources and controlling hunting for reducing the levels of stress hormones in free ranging spider monkeys.

Species- and community-level responses to habitat spatial changes in fragmented rainforests: assessing compensatory dynamics in amphibians and reptiles

The rapid loss and degradation of tropical forests threatens the maintenance of biodiversity across different spatial scales. Nevertheless, the extirpation and population decline of some disturbance-sensitive species may be compensated for by colonization and proliferation of disturbance-adapted species, thus allowing distributions of community-level attributes (e.g., abundance and diversity) to be preserved in human-modified tropical landscapes. To test this poorly assessed hypothesis we evaluated species- and community-level responses of amphibians and reptiles to differences in forest patch (patch size, shape, and distance to water bodies) and landscape metrics (old-growth forest cover, degree of fragmentation, and matrix composition) in the fragmented Lacandona rainforest, Mexico. We found that the abundance of several amphibian and reptile species was strongly associated with forest patch and landscape attributes, being particularly higher in larger patches surrounded by a greater forest cover. Such changes at the species level generated notable changes in reptile communities. In particular, the abundance, diversity, and evenness of reptile communities were strongly related to patch size, patch shape, and matrix composition. Yet, because of compensatory dynamics in amphibians, this group showed weak responses at the community level. Despite such compensatory dynamics, our results indicate that forest loss at the patch and landscape levels represents the main threat to both amphibians and reptiles, thus indicating that to preserve herpetological communities in this biodiversity hotspot, conservation initiatives should be focused on preventing further deforestation.

A Bayesian Spatial Model Highlights Distinct Dynamics in Deforestation from Coca and Pastures in an Andean Biodiversity Hotspot

The loss of tropical forests has continued in recent decades despite wide recognition of their importance to maintaining biodiversity. Here, we examine the conversion of forests to pastures and coca crops (illicit activity) on the San Lucas Mountain Range, Colombia for 2002–2007 and 2007–2010. Land use maps and biophysical variables were used as inputs to generate land use and cover change (LUCC) models using the DINAMICA EGO software. These analyses revealed a dramatic acceleration of the pace of deforestation in the region, with rates of conversion from forest to pasture doubling from the first to the second period. Altitude, distance to other crops, and distance to rivers were the primary drivers of deforestation. The influence of these drivers, however, differed markedly depending on whether coca cultivation or pastures replaced forest. Conversion to coca was more probable farther from other crops and from settlements. In contrast, proximity to other crops and to settlements increased conversion to pasture. These relationships highlight the different roles of coca and pastures in forest loss, with coca tending to open up new forest frontiers, and pastures tending to consolidate agricultural expansion and urban influence. Large differences between LUCC processes for each period suggest highly dynamic changes, likely associated with shifting underlying causes of deforestation. These changes may relate to shifts in demand for illicit crops, land, or mining products; however, the data to test these hypotheses are currently lacking. More frequent and detailed monitoring is required to guide actions to decrease the loss of forest in this highly vulnerable biodiversity hotspot in the Northern Andes.

Markedly Divergent Tree Assemblage Responses to Tropical Forest Loss and Fragmentation across a Strong Seasonality Gradient.

We examine the effects of forest fragmentation on the structure and composition of tree assemblages within three seasonal and aseasonal forest types of southern Brazil, including evergreen, Araucaria, and deciduous forests. We sampled three southernmost Atlantic Forest landscapes, including the largest continuous forest protected areas within each forest type. Tree assemblages in each forest type were sampled within 10 plots of 0.1 ha in both continuous forests and 10 adjacent forest fragments. All trees within each plot were assigned to trait categories describing their regeneration strategy, vertical stratification, seed-dispersal mode, seed size, and wood density. We detected differences among both forest types and landscape contexts in terms of overall tree species richness, and the density and species richness of different functional groups in terms of regeneration strategy, seed dispersal mode and woody density. Overall, evergreen forest fragments exhibited the largest deviations from continuous forest plots in assemblage structure. Evergreen, Araucaria and deciduous forests diverge in the functional composition of tree floras, particularly in relation to regeneration strategy and stress tolerance. By supporting a more diversified light-demanding and stress-tolerant flora with reduced richness and abundance of shade-tolerant, old-growth species, both deciduous and Araucaria forest tree assemblages are more intrinsically resilient to contemporary human-disturbances, including fragmentation-induced edge effects, in terms of species erosion and functional shifts. We suggest that these intrinsic differences in the direction and magnitude of responses to changes in landscape structure between forest types should guide a wide range of conservation strategies in restoring fragmented tropical forest landscapes worldwide.

Forests as Capital: Financial Mechanisms for Tropical Forest Conservation

Tropical forest loss and degradation due to human activities have been persistent and intractable global problems. Model estimates suggest that current levels of finance for conservation and sustainable forest management (SFM) are insufficient and may need to increase by an order of magnitude in order to meet this challenge. This special issue presents select articles from the 2014 Yale International Society of Tropical Foresters (ISTF) Annual Conference, which explored diverse finance mechanisms such as REDD+, sustainability certification, ecological compensation, community forestry, and official development assistance. Each finance mechanism has advantages and disadvantages, which render them effective under specific circumstances. Comprehensive tropical forest conservation will require a diverse portfolio of finance strategies appropriate for local institutional and ecological conditions. Hybrid strategies combining elements of multiple schemes could bolster conservation and SFM efforts by leveraging their respective strengths. Clear and realistic targets and baselines, robust monitoring and measurement-reporting-verification, strong governance and institutions, and periodic evaluation can contribute to the successful application of forest conservation finance. Due to the potentially high damages, especially to the world’s poorest communities from continuing current deforestation trends, substantially greater financing of tropical conservation and SFM is a sound global investment.

Can leaf area index and biomass be estimated from Braun‐Blanquet cover scores in tropical forests?

AbstractQuestionsThe loss and degradation of tropical forests is having severe impacts on the dynamics of understorey plant communities. Understanding these impacts requires efficient ways to measure vegetation change over broad spatial and temporal scales. Leaf area index (LAI) and above‐ground biomass are preferred quantitative measures of variation in plant community structure. However, their accurate measurement requires destructive sampling, which can be impractical or inappropriate. Here we test whether semi‐quantitative assessment of Braun‐Blanquet vegetation cover scores is a reliable proxy for direct quantitative measures of LAI and above‐ground biomass of differing plant growth forms (PGF) within tropical forests.LocationSix hundred square kilometre area of tropical lowland rain forest in Sabah, Malaysia.MethodsWe sampled understorey rain forest plant communities across a disturbance gradient in 2 × 2 m plots at 301 locations. We used a modified Braun‐Blanquet scale to estimate plant cover, destructively harvested all live above‐ground biomass up to a height of 2 m, calculated the above‐ground biomass of each species from separately processed stem and leaf fractions in each plot, and then calculated LAI using reference measures of specific leaf area for each species. For each of nine PGFs, we regressed LAI and biomass against the nine‐point Braun‐Blanquet ordinal transform scale (OTS) using linear mixed effects models.ResultsWe found a simple, uniform logarithmic scaling of LAI with increasing Braun‐Blanquet cover classes that was consistent across most PGFs, and with slope estimates close to 1.0. By contrast, no simple scaling relationship was found for above‐ground biomass, with most PGFs exhibiting an asymptotic relationship in which the Braun‐Blanquet estimates across high cover scores provided almost no resolution of observed variation in empirical biomass measures.ConclusionsWe found that the Braun‐Blanquet OTS provides a remarkably simple and accurate logarithmic scaling of LAI, but care should be taken in applying scaling rules uniformly across PGFs. In contrast, the Braun‐Blanquet OTS shows a more complex relationship with plant above‐ground biomass and we caution against its unconditional use for biomass estimation. The findings of this study should be broadly applicable to other ecosystems due to the heterogeneity of plant communities included in this work.

Evaluating the Habitat of the Critically Endangered Kipunji Monkey

Effective conservation of threatened species requires a good understanding of their habitat. Most primates are threatened by tropical forest loss. One population of the critically endangered kipunji monkey Rungwecebus kipunji occurs in a restricted part of one forest in southern Tanzania. This restricted range is something of an enigma. We collated woody vegetation data to assess habitat quality in and around the core kipunji range (Vikongwa) compared to other nearby forests. Habitat quality in Vikongwa was high compared to other regional and African forests, in that tree stem density, basal area, species richness and availability of kipunji dietary species were all comparatively high. However, the nearby Sanje forest, where the kipunji is absent, had comparable habitat to Vikongwa. We concur with previous research that the kipunji is dependent on old growth forest. However, the availability of comparable vegetation in at least one nearby forest suggests that habitat is not the only reason for the kipunji's restricted range.

Recent deforestation causes rapid increase in river sediment load in the Colombian Andes

Abstract Human induced soil erosion reduces soil productivity; compromises freshwater ecosystem services, and drives geomorphic and ecological change in rivers and their floodplains. The Andes of Colombia have witnessed severe changes in land-cover and forest loss during the last three decades with the period 2000 and 2010 being the highest on record. We address the following: (1) what are the cumulative impacts of tropical forest loss on soil erosion? and (2) what effects has deforestation had on sediment production, availability, and the transport capacity of Andean rivers? Models and observations are combined to estimate the amount of sediment liberated from the landscape by deforestation within a major Andean basin, the Magdalena. We use a scaling model BQART that combines natural and human forces, like basin area, relief, temperature, runoff, lithology, and sediment trapping and soil erosion induced by humans. Model adjustments in terms of land cover change were used to establish the anthropogenic-deforestation factor for each of the sub-basins. Deforestation patterns across 1980–2010 were obtained from satellite imagery. Models were employed to simulate scenarios with and without human impacts. We estimate that, 9% of the sediment load in the Magdalena River basin is due to deforestation; 482 Mt of sediments was produced due to forest clearance over the last three decades. Erosion rates within the Magdalena drainage basin have increased 33% between 1972 and 2010; increasing the river’s sediment load by 44 Mt y −1 . Much of the river catchment (79%) is under severe erosional conditions due in part to the clearance of more than 70% natural forest between 1980 and 2010.

Post-crackdown effectiveness of field-based forest law enforcement in the Brazilian Amazon.

Regulatory enforcement of forest conservation laws is often dismissed as an ineffective approach to reducing tropical forest loss. Yet, effective enforcement is often a precondition for alternative conservation measures, such as payments for environmental services, to achieve desired outcomes. Fair and efficient policies to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) will thus crucially depend on understanding the determinants and requirements of enforcement effectiveness. Among potential REDD candidate countries, Brazil is considered to possess the most advanced deforestation monitoring and enforcement infrastructure. This study explores a unique dataset of over 15 thousand point coordinates of enforcement missions in the Brazilian Amazon during 2009 and 2010, after major reductions of deforestation in the region. We study whether local deforestation patterns have been affected by field-based enforcement and to what extent these effects vary across administrative boundaries. Spatial matching and regression techniques are applied at different spatial resolutions. We find that field-based enforcement operations have not been universally effective in deterring deforestation during our observation period. Inspections have been most effective in reducing large-scale deforestation in the states of Mato Grosso and Pará, where average conservation effects were 4.0 and 9.9 hectares per inspection, respectively. Despite regional and actor-specific heterogeneity in inspection effectiveness, field-based law enforcement is highly cost-effective on average and might be enhanced by closer collaboration between national and state-level authorities.

Cambodia's Unofficial Regime of Extraction: Illicit Logging in the Shadow of Transnational Governance and Investment

ABSTRACT: Cambodia has recently demonstrated one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world. While scholars have long explored the drivers of tropical forest loss, the case of Cambodia offers particular insights into the role of the state where transnational governance and regional integration are increasingly the norm. Given the significant role logging rents play in Cambodia's post-conflict state formation, this article explores the contemporary regime and its ongoing codependent relationship with forested land. Insights are distilled from comparative analysis of illicit logging in two ethnographic case studies. Both involve foreign investments by state-owned companies – a Chinese-backed hydropower dam and Vietnamese-owned rubber concessions – and both are nestled in prominent conservation landscapes that are managed with international donor support. Together, the cases reveal how Cambodia's current timber extraction regime works through the use and abuse of legal mechanisms associated with forest conservation and foreign investment projects, and the mobilization of elite alliances that log both for private gain and in service of the ruling party's interests. By implication, the government's remarkable facilitation of transnational projects for conservation and development must be reappraised and ultimately seen as constitutive of a predatory and extractive regime that continues to rely heavily upon illicit logging revenues.

Predicting dispersal of auto-gyrating fruit in tropical trees: a case study from the Dipterocarpaceae.

Seed dispersal governs the distribution of plant propagules in the landscape and hence forms the template on which density-dependent processes act. Dispersal is therefore a vital component of many species coexistence and forest dynamics models and is of applied value in understanding forest regeneration. Research on the processes that facilitate forest regeneration and restoration is given further weight in the context of widespread loss and degradation of tropical forests, and provides impetus to improve estimates of seed dispersal for tropical forest trees. South-East Asian lowland rainforests, which have been subject to severe degradation, are dominated by trees of the Dipterocarpaceae family which constitute over 40% of forest biomass. Dipterocarp dispersal is generally considered to be poor given their large, gyration-dispersed fruits. However, there is wide variability in fruit size and morphology which we hypothesize mechanistically underpins dispersal potential through the lift provided to seeds mediated by the wings. We explored experimentally how the ratio of fruit wing area to mass (“inverse wing loading,” IWL) explains variation in seed dispersal kernels among 13 dipterocarp species by releasing fruit from a canopy tower. Horizontal seed dispersal distances increased with IWL, especially at high wind speeds. Seed dispersal of all species was predominantly local, with 90% of seed dispersing <10 m, although maximum dispersal distances varied widely among species. We present a generic seed dispersal model for dipterocarps based on attributes of seed morphology and provide modeled seed dispersal kernels for all dipterocarp species with IWLs of 1–50, representing 75% of species in Borneo.

Anuran Beta Diversity in a Mosaic Anthropogenic Landscape in Transitional Amazon

Can the loss of forest habitat cause changes in local communities? The results of our study of anuran assemblages in the southern Amazon indicate that the conversion of forest into open environments results in the substitution of species and the reduction of beta diversity. The increasing loss of tropical forests to agricultural development, especially in the Amazon, has resulted in the extensive modification of the natural landscape, transforming once-continuous forests into a mosaic of modified habitats. Our data indicate that this process resulted in the substitution of forest species by generalists, which are more typical of open environments. Also, this process has a homogenizing effect, making different areas more similar to one another, resulting in a decrease in beta diversity. This substitution–homogenization process may become increasingly common through the ongoing advance of agricultural frontiers, resulting in the local extinction of an important component of the biodiversity of tropical forests.

Pérdida estimada de bosque tropical seco en Carácuaro, Michoacán, México (2004-2012) a partir del análisis comparativo de imágenes SPOT

El bosque tropical seco (BTS) está sufriendo un rápido deterioro en el estado de Michoacán, México, por el pastoreo y la agricultura de temporal. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la pérdida del bosque tropical seco en el municipio de Carácuaro, Mich., entre 2004 y 2012, utilizando dos imágenes SPOT (10m). Se realizó una clasificación no supervisada de 20 clases de las imágenes preprocesadas y se calculó el NDVI promedio de cada clase. Las clases se reagruparon según rangos de NDVI en: vegetación de hoja perenne, de hoja caduca (BTS) y suelo. Las clasificaciones se validaron (95.5 %) con 2000 px/cobertura con imágenes pancromáticas SPOT (2.5m) de las mismas fechas. Se obtuvieron la matriz y el mapa de cambios. Éstos se produjeron en todo el municipio, afectando al 24.75 % de la superficie. En el periodo estudiado, el 18.73 % (13,926.59 ha) de la superficie de BTS sufrió algún tipo de cambio: el 14.3 % (10,665.13 ha) pasó a ser suelo y el resto vegetación de hoja perenne (probablemente arbustiva). Por otra parte, 5,290.52 ha de suelo se recuperaron como BTS, si bien se puede pensar que sufrieron una pérdida de biodiversidad.

Niches of Saproxylic Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in French Guiana

The loss of tropical forests has a direct effect on saproxylic beetles through the loss of larval feeding substrates and an indirect effect through microclimate change in forest fragments. Impacts will be exacerbated by climate change, and species with narrow niches will be particularly vulnerable. This study presents baseline data on niches (seasonality, host plant, stratum, and branch diameter) of saproxylic weevils in a minimally disturbed moist forest of French Guiana. Weevils (excluding bark beetles) were expected to be host specialists and more abundant in moist microhabitats. Bait branches from three species in the Brazil nut family (Lecythidaceae) were exposed during the dry and rainy season at ground and canopy stratum. They yielded 1,262 weevils in 24 species; 95% belonged to the subfamily Conoderinae. Weevils emerged in greatest abundance from Eschweilera coriacea (A. P. de Candolle) S. A. Mori and from branches in the coolest, moistest microhabitat: ground stratum during the rainy season. Shifts towards warmer, drier climatic conditions would probably have a negative impact on most saproxylic weevil species currently associated with the Brazil nut family. Although this family is expected to suffer under biotic homogenization, the favored host species is hyperdominant throughout Amazonia; climate permitting, E. coriacea could provide a refuge.

Predicted distributions, niche comparisons, and conservation status of the spotted linsang (Prionodon pardicolor) and banded linsang (Prionodon linsang)

Knowledge of a species’ distribution and habitat preferences is of paramount importance when assessing its conservation status. We used accurately recorded occurrence records and ecological niche modeling to predict the distribution of two poorly known small carnivore species that occur in Asia, the spotted linsang (Prionodon pardicolor) and banded linsang (Prionodon linsang), and analyzed their niche overlaps for habitat and elevation. We then assessed the loss of their suitable habitat and estimated the proportion of predicted presence under protected areas. We identified and assessed possible anthropogenic threats, and used our modeling predictions to recommend surveying priorities. Our study confirmed that these two linsangs are geographically separated, with no known overlap of their distributions. Our results indicated that the habitat and elevation niches of these two linsangs are similar: they both occur primarily in evergreen forest and can be found at all elevations up to around 3,000 m. Although these two linsangs might be allopatric due to intense interspecific competition between them, other explanations could explain their distribution patterns, such as biogeographical and ecological barriers. Our findings suggest that these two linsangs might be threatened by the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of tropical evergreen forests. Urgent field studies are thus needed to learn more about their habitat requirements and the impact of anthropogenic threats, including tropical forest disturbance and hunting.

Deforestation of “Degraded” Rangelands: The Argentine Chaco Enters the Next Stage of the Anthropocene

Twenty years ago I completed my master’s work in the Chaco forests of northern Argentina. The na- tive forests are, in fact, rangelands. In addition to livestock grazing, there is timber extraction, wild- life harvest (think tegu lizard cowboy boots), and charcoal production. I took part in a project comparing biodiversity among production systems. A new system promised to reverse biodiversity loss and soil degradation. But it’s a moot point now, since much of that forest has been cleared for crop- land—the highest rate of tropical forest loss in the world. DOI: 10.2458/azu_rangelands_v36i4_bestelmeyer

Environmental determinants of tropical forest and savanna distribution: A quantitative model evaluation and its implication

AbstractThe distributions of tropical ecosystems are rapidly being altered by climate change and anthropogenic activities. One possible trend—the loss of tropical forests and replacement by savannas—could result in significant shifts in ecosystem services and biodiversity loss. However, the influence and the relative importance of environmental factors in regulating the distribution of tropical forest and savanna biomes are still poorly understood, which makes it difficult to predict future tropical forest and savanna distributions in the context of climate change. Here we use boosted regression trees to quantitatively evaluate the importance of environmental predictors—mainly climatic, edaphic, and fire factors—for the tropical forest‐savanna distribution at a mesoscale across the tropics (between 15°N and 35°S). Our results demonstrate that climate alone can explain most of the distribution of tropical forest and savanna at the scale considered; dry season average precipitation is the single most important determinant across tropical Asia‐Australia, Africa, and South America. Given the strong tendency of increased seasonality and decreased dry season precipitation predicted by global climate models, we estimate that about 28% of what is now tropical forest would likely be lost to savanna by the late 21st century under the future scenario considered. This study highlights the importance of climate seasonality and interannual variability in predicting the distribution of tropical forest and savanna, supporting the climate as the primary driver in the savanna biogeography.

Determination of tropical deforestation rates and related carbon losses from 1990 to 2010.

We estimate changes in forest cover (deforestation and forest regrowth) in the tropics for the two last decades (1990–2000 and 2000–2010) based on a sample of 4000 units of 10 ×10 km size. Forest cover is interpreted from satellite imagery at 30 × 30 m resolution. Forest cover changes are then combined with pan-tropical biomass maps to estimate carbon losses. We show that there was a gross loss of tropical forests of 8.0 million ha yr−1 in the 1990s and 7.6 million ha yr−1 in the 2000s (0.49% annual rate), with no statistically significant difference. Humid forests account for 64% of the total forest cover in 2010 and 54% of the net forest loss during second study decade. Losses of forest cover and Other Wooded Land (OWL) cover result in estimates of carbon losses which are similar for 1990s and 2000s at 887 MtC yr−1 (range: 646–1238) and 880 MtC yr−1 (range: 602–1237) respectively, with humid regions contributing two-thirds. The estimates of forest area changes have small statistical standard errors due to large sample size. We also reduce uncertainties of previous estimates of carbon losses and removals. Our estimates of forest area change are significantly lower as compared to national survey data. We reconcile recent low estimates of carbon emissions from tropical deforestation for early 2000s and show that carbon loss rates did not change between the two last decades. Carbon losses from deforestation represent circa 10% of Carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion and cement production during the last decade (2000–2010). Our estimates of annual removals of carbon from forest regrowth at 115 MtC yr−1 (range: 61–168) and 97 MtC yr−1 (53–141) for the 1990s and 2000s respectively are five to fifteen times lower than earlier published estimates.