TY - JOUR

T1 - A 22 year assessment of deforestation and restoration in riparian forests in the eastern Brazilian Amazon

AU - Nunes, Samia S.

AU - Barlow, Jos

AU - Gardner, Toby A.

AU - Siqueira, Joao V.

AU - Sales, Marcio R.

AU - Souza, Carlos M.

PY - 2015/9

Y1 - 2015/9

N2 - Brazilian environmental law imposesmore restrictions on land-use change by private landowners in riparian forests than in non-riparian forest areas, reflecting recognition of their importance for the conservation of biodiversity and key ecosystem services. A 22-year time series of classified Landsat images was used to evaluate deforestation and forest regeneration in riparian permanent preservation areas over the past two decades, focusing on the municipality of Paragominas in the state of Para in eastern Amazonia. There was no evidence that riparian forests had been more effectively protected than non-riparian forests. Instead, deforestation was found to be comparatively higher inside riparian permanent preservation areas as recently as 2010, indicating a widespread failure of private property owners to comply with environmental legislation. There was no evidence for higher levels of regeneration in riparian zones, although property owners are obliged by law to restore such areas. A number of factors limit improvements in the protection and restoration of riparian forests. These include limited awareness of environmental compliance requirements, the need for improved technical capacity in mapping the distribution and extent of riparian forests and the boundaries of private properties, and improved access to the financial resources and technical capacity needed to support restoration projects.

AB - Brazilian environmental law imposesmore restrictions on land-use change by private landowners in riparian forests than in non-riparian forest areas, reflecting recognition of their importance for the conservation of biodiversity and key ecosystem services. A 22-year time series of classified Landsat images was used to evaluate deforestation and forest regeneration in riparian permanent preservation areas over the past two decades, focusing on the municipality of Paragominas in the state of Para in eastern Amazonia. There was no evidence that riparian forests had been more effectively protected than non-riparian forests. Instead, deforestation was found to be comparatively higher inside riparian permanent preservation areas as recently as 2010, indicating a widespread failure of private property owners to comply with environmental legislation. There was no evidence for higher levels of regeneration in riparian zones, although property owners are obliged by law to restore such areas. A number of factors limit improvements in the protection and restoration of riparian forests. These include limited awareness of environmental compliance requirements, the need for improved technical capacity in mapping the distribution and extent of riparian forests and the boundaries of private properties, and improved access to the financial resources and technical capacity needed to support restoration projects.

KW - Brazilian environmental law

KW - forest restoration

KW - Landsat classification

KW - permanent preservation areas

KW - riparian forest

KW - IMPACTS

KW - CONSERVATION

KW - REGION

KW - BASIN

KW - MAPS

U2 - 10.1017/S0376892914000356

DO - 10.1017/S0376892914000356

M3 - Journal article

VL - 42

SP - 193

EP - 203

JO - Environmental Conservation

JF - Environmental Conservation

SN - 0376-8929

IS - 3

ER -