Assessing Forest Cover Dynamics and Forest Perception in the Atlantic Forest of Paraguay, Combining Remote Sensing and Household Level Data
The Upper Parana Atlantic Forest (BAAPA) in Paraguay is one of the most threatened tropical forests in the world. The rapid growth of deforestation has resulted in the loss of 91% of its original cover. Numerous efforts have been made to halt deforestation activities, however farmers’ perception tow...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-10-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/8/10/389 |
| _version_ | 1811343864161632256 |
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| author | Emmanuel Da Ponte Benjamin Mack Christian Wohlfart Oscar Rodas Martina Fleckenstein Natascha Oppelt Stefan Dech Claudia Kuenzer |
| author_facet | Emmanuel Da Ponte Benjamin Mack Christian Wohlfart Oscar Rodas Martina Fleckenstein Natascha Oppelt Stefan Dech Claudia Kuenzer |
| author_sort | Emmanuel Da Ponte |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Upper Parana Atlantic Forest (BAAPA) in Paraguay is one of the most threatened tropical forests in the world. The rapid growth of deforestation has resulted in the loss of 91% of its original cover. Numerous efforts have been made to halt deforestation activities, however farmers’ perception towards the forest and its benefits has not been considered either in studies conducted so far or by policy makers. This research provides the first multi-temporal analysis of the dynamics of the forest within the BAAPA region on the one hand, and assesses the way farmers perceive the forest and how this influences forest conservation at the farm level on the other. Remote sensing data acquired from Landsat images from 1999 to 2016 were used to measure the extent of the forest cover and deforestation rates over 17 years. Farmers’ influence on the dynamics of the forest was evaluated by combining earth observation data and household survey results conducted in the BAAPA region in 2016. Outcomes obtained in this study demonstrate a total loss in forest cover of 7500 km2. Deforestation rates in protected areas were determined by management regimes. The combination of household level and remote sensing data demonstrated that forest dynamics at the farm level is influenced by farm type, the level of dependency/use of forest benefits and the level of education of forest owners. An understanding of the social value awarded to the forest is a relevant contribution towards preserving natural resources. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T19:37:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-29b27e6e8a334576a9ab0412a838a840 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T19:37:36Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-29b27e6e8a334576a9ab0412a838a8402022-12-22T02:32:59ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072017-10-0181038910.3390/f8100389f8100389Assessing Forest Cover Dynamics and Forest Perception in the Atlantic Forest of Paraguay, Combining Remote Sensing and Household Level DataEmmanuel Da Ponte0Benjamin Mack1Christian Wohlfart2Oscar Rodas3Martina Fleckenstein4Natascha Oppelt5Stefan Dech6Claudia Kuenzer7Remote Sensing & Environmental Modelling, Department for Geography, Kiel University, 24098 Kiel, GermanyGerman Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, 82234 Wessling, GermanyGerman Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, 82234 Wessling, GermanyWorld Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Paraguay, Asuncion 1001-1925, ParaguayWorld Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Germany, Reinhardtstraße 18, Berlin 10117, GermanyRemote Sensing & Environmental Modelling, Department for Geography, Kiel University, 24098 Kiel, GermanyGerman Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, 82234 Wessling, GermanyGerman Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, 82234 Wessling, GermanyThe Upper Parana Atlantic Forest (BAAPA) in Paraguay is one of the most threatened tropical forests in the world. The rapid growth of deforestation has resulted in the loss of 91% of its original cover. Numerous efforts have been made to halt deforestation activities, however farmers’ perception towards the forest and its benefits has not been considered either in studies conducted so far or by policy makers. This research provides the first multi-temporal analysis of the dynamics of the forest within the BAAPA region on the one hand, and assesses the way farmers perceive the forest and how this influences forest conservation at the farm level on the other. Remote sensing data acquired from Landsat images from 1999 to 2016 were used to measure the extent of the forest cover and deforestation rates over 17 years. Farmers’ influence on the dynamics of the forest was evaluated by combining earth observation data and household survey results conducted in the BAAPA region in 2016. Outcomes obtained in this study demonstrate a total loss in forest cover of 7500 km2. Deforestation rates in protected areas were determined by management regimes. The combination of household level and remote sensing data demonstrated that forest dynamics at the farm level is influenced by farm type, the level of dependency/use of forest benefits and the level of education of forest owners. An understanding of the social value awarded to the forest is a relevant contribution towards preserving natural resources.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/8/10/389BAAPAremote sensinghousehold surveyforestfarm types |
| spellingShingle | Emmanuel Da Ponte Benjamin Mack Christian Wohlfart Oscar Rodas Martina Fleckenstein Natascha Oppelt Stefan Dech Claudia Kuenzer Assessing Forest Cover Dynamics and Forest Perception in the Atlantic Forest of Paraguay, Combining Remote Sensing and Household Level Data Forests BAAPA remote sensing household survey forest farm types |
| title | Assessing Forest Cover Dynamics and Forest Perception in the Atlantic Forest of Paraguay, Combining Remote Sensing and Household Level Data |
| title_full | Assessing Forest Cover Dynamics and Forest Perception in the Atlantic Forest of Paraguay, Combining Remote Sensing and Household Level Data |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Forest Cover Dynamics and Forest Perception in the Atlantic Forest of Paraguay, Combining Remote Sensing and Household Level Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Forest Cover Dynamics and Forest Perception in the Atlantic Forest of Paraguay, Combining Remote Sensing and Household Level Data |
| title_short | Assessing Forest Cover Dynamics and Forest Perception in the Atlantic Forest of Paraguay, Combining Remote Sensing and Household Level Data |
| title_sort | assessing forest cover dynamics and forest perception in the atlantic forest of paraguay combining remote sensing and household level data |
| topic | BAAPA remote sensing household survey forest farm types |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/8/10/389 |
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