Reconstructing Three Decades of Land Use and Land Cover Changes in Brazilian Biomes with Landsat Archive and Earth Engine

Remote Sensing, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 12(17), P. 2735 - 2735

Published: Aug. 25, 2020

Brazil has a monitoring system to track annual forest conversion in the Amazon and most recently monitor Cerrado biome. However, there is still gap of land use cover (LULC) information all Brazilian biomes country. Existing countrywide efforts map lack regularly updates high spatial resolution time-series data better understand historical dynamics, subsequent impacts country biomes. In this study, we described novel approach results achieved by multi-disciplinary network called MapBiomas reconstruct between 1985 2017 for Brazil, based on random applied Landsat archive using Google Earth Engine. We mapped five major classes: forest, non-forest natural formation, farming, non-vegetated areas, water. These classes were broken into two sub-classification levels leading comprehensive detailed mapping at 30 m pixel resolution. The average overall accuracy time-series, stratified sample 75,000 locations, was 89% ranging from 73 95% 33 years LULC change series revealed that lost 71 Mha vegetation, mostly cattle ranching agriculture activities. Pasture expanded 46% 2017, 172%, replacing old pasture fields. also identified 86 converted native vegetation undergoing some level regrowth. Several applications dataset are underway, suggesting reconstructing maps useful advancing science guide social, economic environmental policy decision-making processes Brazil.

Language: Английский

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Moment of truth for the Cerrado hotspot

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 1(4)

Published: March 23, 2017

Language: Английский

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Combatting global grassland degradation

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 2(10), P. 720 - 735

Published: Sept. 7, 2021

Language: Английский

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Fire as a fundamental ecological process: Research advances and frontiers

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 108(5), P. 2047 - 2069

Published: April 18, 2020

Abstract Fire is a powerful ecological and evolutionary force that regulates organismal traits, population sizes, species interactions, community composition, carbon nutrient cycling ecosystem function. It also presents rapidly growing societal challenge, due to both increasingly destructive wildfires fire exclusion in fire‐dependent ecosystems. As an process, integrates complex feedbacks among biological, social geophysical processes, requiring coordination across several fields scales of study. Here, we describe the diversity ways which operates as fundamental process on Earth. We explore research priorities six categories ecology: (a) characteristics regimes, (b) changing (c) effects above‐ground ecology, (d) below‐ground (e) behaviour (f) ecology modelling. identify three emergent themes: need study temporal scales, assess mechanisms underlying variety involving improve representation range modelling contexts. Synthesis : regimes our relationships with continue change, prioritizing these areas will facilitate understanding causes consequences future fires rethinking management alternatives.

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity conservation gaps in the Brazilian protected areas

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: Aug. 16, 2017

Abstract Although Brazil is a megadiverse country and thus conservation priority, no study has yet quantified gaps in the Brazilian protected areas (PAs) using extensive empirical data. Here, we evaluate degree of biodiversity protection knowledge within all PAs through gap analysis vertebrate, arthropod angiosperm occurrences phylogenetic Our results show that on most remain scant as 71% have less than 0.01 species records per km 2 . Almost 55% about 40% evolutionary lineages are not found PAs, while 30% their geographic distribution PAs. Moreover, current PA network fails to protect majority endemic species. Most importantly, these similar for taxonomic groups analysed here. The methods our countrywide assessment suggested help design further inventories order map secure key In addition, illustrates common shortfalls tropics.

Language: Английский

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Resilience and restoration of tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and grassy woodlands

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 94(2), P. 590 - 609

Published: Sept. 24, 2018

ABSTRACT Despite growing recognition of the conservation values grassy biomes, our understanding how to maintain and restore biodiverse tropical grasslands (including savannas open‐canopy woodlands) remains limited. To incorporate into large‐scale restoration efforts, we synthesised existing ecological knowledge grassland resilience approaches plant community restoration. Tropical communities are resilient to, often dependent on, endogenous disturbances with which they evolved – frequent fires native megafaunal herbivory. In stark contrast, extremely vulnerable human‐caused exogenous disturbances, particularly those that alter soils destroy belowground biomass (e.g. tillage agriculture, surface mining); after severe soil is expensive rarely achieves management targets. Where have been degraded by altered disturbance regimes fire exclusion), exotic invasions, or afforestation, efforts can recreate vegetation structure (i.e. historical tree density herbaceous ground cover), but species‐diverse communities, including endemic species, slow recover. Complicating plant‐community many invest in underground storage organs, difficult propagate re‐establish. guide decisions, draw on old‐growth concept, novel ecosystem theory regarding cover along resource gradients propose a conceptual framework classifies three broad states. These states are: (1) ancient, ecosystems), where should focus maintenance regimes; (2) hybrid grasslands, emphasise return towards state; (3) ecosystems, magnitude environmental change shift an alternative state) socioecological context preclude conditions.

Language: Английский

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A critical analysis of the Native Vegetation Protection Law of Brazil (2012): updates and ongoing initiatives

Natureza & Conservação, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 14, P. 1 - 15

Published: April 1, 2016

The Native Vegetation Protection Law of Brazil, which replaced the Forest Code from 1965, is still undergoing regulation at federal and state levels, constitutionality some clauses are in question. In order to support legal rulings, decisions by public officers, inform other stakeholders, we present a balanced assessment positive negative consequences light current scientific knowledge. Key advances were noted systems controls incentives, promoted new mechanisms policies implementation this law. main environmental setbacks (i) removal protection certain environmentally fragile areas, (ii) concession amnesty fines incurred for violating preceding legislation, (iii) allowing continuous farming or maintenance infrastructure areas protected law, without full recovery native vegetation. weakening may hamper soil watershed protection, biodiversity conservation, even agricultural productivity, manifest benefits country. On that account, recommend that: judiciary rulings county regulations correct pending issues with based on knowledge wider citizen participation; strengthening agencies rural technical assistance; development incentives develop supply chain vegetation recovery; (iv) compensation Legal Reserves clear robust criteria; (v) compliance has also be quality recovered areas.

Language: Английский

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Deforestation control in the Brazilian Amazon: A conservation struggle being lost as agreements and regulations are subverted and bypassed

Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 17(3), P. 122 - 130

Published: June 29, 2019

Despite efforts to reduce deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, there has been an up-turn clearing rates since 2012. These increases are part due failures control. Soybean planters, cattle ranchers, and timber merchants find ways circumvent agreements legislation. Here we explain some of key problems with implementation principal laws that should be keeping under To combat increased suggest urgent need strengthen environmental agencies, improve technologies used monitor effectiveness clearing-reduction programmes, better integrate agrarian policies enforcement across federal, state municipal governments, as well transparency along global supply chains raise awareness among consumers put market pressure on producers avoid new deforestation.

Language: Английский

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Why Brazil needs its Legal Reserves

Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 17(3), P. 91 - 103

Published: July 1, 2019

Brazil's environmental legislation obliges private properties to retain a fixed proportion of their total area with native vegetation, the so-called "Legal Reserves". Those areas represent practically one third country's vegetation and are well known for role in biodiversity protection provisioning wide range ecosystem services landowners society. Despite relevance, this instrument has been criticized by part agribusiness sector its representatives Brazilian Congress. The Legal Reserve requirement is said be too restrictive impede full expansion agricultural activities, thus detrimental development country. Here, we critically analyze arguments employed justification recently proposed bill that aims completely extinguish Reserves. We demonstrate used mostly unsupported data, evidence or theory, besides being based on illogical reasoning. Further, synthesize principal benefits Reserves, including health economic benefits, emphasize importance these reserves water, energy, food, climate securities, addition primary function assisting maintenance landscapes. also highlight Reserves key-component effective less expensive nature-based solutions, should considered as assets Brazil rather than liabilities. Based available sound scientific agreement strongly oppose any attempt weaken

Language: Английский

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Ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change: concept, scalability and a role for conservation science

Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 15(2), P. 65 - 73

Published: April 1, 2017

Societal adaptation to climate change requires measures that simultaneously reduce poverty, protect or restore biodiversity and ecosystem services, remove atmospheric greenhouse gases. Ecosystem-based is the type of aims combine these outcomes particularly relevant developing nations safeguard most planetary healthy ecosystems. Although conceptually new, ecosystem-based fastly gaining traction both as a research arena an integrated policy instrument. This paper revisit this concept discuss science challenges faced by it. It argues mix promotes adaptive transition, which step towards sustainability transitions. faces two major in promoting transitions sustainability. First, on mostly takes place within socio-ecological systems framework, often carried out isolation from socio-technical research. widely recognized types should be integrated, for benefit policy-making, discusses potential providing such bridge. Second, there divide between global local policy, while at level related setting (e.g., coastal, urban, rural). The resulting mosaic information lacks integration, hinders scalability actions policies. Finally, I examine opportunity ecological conservation scientists interact with social, economic political research, how timely Brazil.

Language: Английский

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