Evaluating Selective Logging Pressure upon the Amazonian Biome Using GIS Cost Surface Models
Paulo
Barreto, Imazon, pbarreto@imazon.org.br
(Presenting)
Carlos
Moreira de
Souza Jr., Imazon, carlos@geog.ucsb.edu
(Presenting)
Marco
Lentini, Imazon, marcolentini@imazon.org.br
(Presenting)
Dar
Roberts, University of California at Santa Barbara, dar@geog.ucsb.edu
(Presenting)
We use a projection of the area accessible to timber exploitation in the Amazonian biome to evaluate logging pressure in the Biome. To predict which forested areas might be harvested by the logging industry, we estimate areas that are economically accessible for logging in the Amazon Biome using GIS cost surface models. The models are based on transportation costs payable by timber companies for harvesting and transporting logs from the forest to the saw mill. Additionally, the model incorporates information on saw mill location, type of species harvested, transportation corridors (roads and navigable rivers), land cover, cost to extract, process and transport logs, and timber price. These data were acquired through 917 interviews conducted between 1998 and 2001.
Our logging economic extent model shows that approximately 78% of the forests within the Biome are accessible to timber harvesting. The accessible forests are divided into zones based on timber value. The first zone is economically feasible for the exploitation of all timber species, making up 6% of the forests in the Biome. In the next zone selective logging is profitable only for mid-value species (14% of the forests). The last two zones include the forests that are profitable for harvesting only high value species such as mahogany, comprising 42% and 16% of the forested Biome, respectively. Only 22% of the Amazonian Biome is inaccessible for logging, meaning that the area is either too far from wood mills, or where natural barriers impede transportation of logs to markets.
We plan to use our GIS model of logging extent to identify logging pressure over protected areas and to prioritize areas for monitoring logging activities with remote sensing. The model also has the potential to be integrated with remote sensing maps that are being produced by LBA researchers to evaluate the installed capacity of saw mill centers that are currently in operation in the Amazon region.
Submetido por Paulo Gonçalves Barreto em 18-MAR-2004
Tema Científico do LBA: LC (Mudanças dos Usos da Terra e da Vegetação)