科研之友
微信
新浪微博
Facebook
分享链接
摘要
This paper evaluates forest dynamics in Venezuela, using change detection techniques applied to a series of historical maps. The analysis allows the identification of forest area, loss, gain, net change, annual rates of deforestation and forest loss percentages in different time periods between 1920 and 2008. The study shows that the largest forest gain took place between 1920 and 1960, with an increase of 8,699,600ha, while the biggest losses and net changes occurred between 1960 and 1982, with -15,168,200ha and -10,877,800ha, respectively. Also, for all the period evaluated (1920-2008), -26.43% (-17,935,800ha) of the Venezuelan forests were lost, at an annual rate of -0.30%, being the most affected areas the Northwest region, in particular the Western Llanos and the south of the Maracaibo Lake. The period between 1982 and 1995 was the most critical for all the country, as it shows the highest mean annual rate of forest loss in the whole period with -0.93% (-528,522ha). Despite the fact that in the last decade there has been a forest recovery of 3.27% (1,631,600ha), mainly due to the natural expansion process, deforestation continues at an alarming rate, with losses of 288,000ha/year. The results have been validated with local studies on deforestation.
- 出版日期2011-8
