Selective logging in the Brazilian Amazon.
Amazon deforestation has been measured by remote sensing for three decades. In comparison, selective logging has been mostly invisible to satellites. We developed a large-scale, high-resolution, automated remote-sensing analysis of selective logging in the top five timber-producing states of the Brazilian Amazon. Logged areas ranged from 12,075 to 19,823 square kilometers per year (+/-14%) between 1999 and 2002, equivalent to 60 to 123% of previously reported deforestation area. Up to 1200 square kilometers per year of logging were observed on conservation lands. Each year, 27 million to 50 million cubic meters of wood were extracted, and a gross flux of approximately 0.1 billion metric tons of carbon was destined for release to the atmosphere by logging.
Asner
Gregory P
GP
Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. gasner@globalecology.stanford.edu
Knapp
David E
DE
Broadbent
Eben N
EN
Oliveira
Paulo J C
PJ
Keller
Michael
M
Silva
Jose N
JN
D001938:Brazil; D002244:Carbon; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D016468:Forestry; D007221:Industry; D018531:Spacecraft; D014197:Trees; D014934:Wood
D002244:Carbon