Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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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 -