Land cover dynamics following a deforestation ban in northern Costa Rica

Fagan, Matthew E.; DeFries, Ruth; Sesnie, Steven E.; Arroyo, Jesús; Walker, Wayne; Soto, Carlomagno; Chazdon, Robin L.; Sanchun, A

doi:10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/034017

Cited by 89 publications

(158 citation statements)

References 60 publications

(94 reference statements)

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“…In order to evaluate the REDD+ program performance, historical data (including LC data) is required for setting the national FRELs/FRLs. Some LC studies have been carried out in Costa Rica since the 1970s, analyzing the influence of environmental policies and other socioeconomic factors on forest dynamics [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. However, despite the quality and quantity of historical LC data in the country, these data were produced with different objectives and have different technical specifications [23], raising the question of whether any detected changes would be due to actual LC dynamics or to the lack of consistency in the methods used.…”

Section: "Reducing Emissions From Deforestation and Forest Degradatiomentioning

confidence: 99%

An Operational Framework for Land Cover Classification in the Context of REDD+ Mechanisms. A Case Study from Costa Rica

et al. 2016

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REDD+ implementation requires robust, consistent, accurate and transparent national land cover historical data and monitoring systems. Satellite imagery is the only data source with enough periodicity to provide consistent land cover information in a cost-effective way. The main aim of this paper is the creation of an operational framework for monitoring land cover dynamics based on Landsat imagery and open-source software. The methodology integrates the entire land cover and land cover change mapping processes to produce a consistent series of Land Cover maps. The consistency of the time series is achieved through the application of a single trained machine learning algorithm to radiometrically normalized imagery using iteratively re-weighted multivariate alteration detection (IR-MAD) across all dates of the historical period. As a result, seven individual Land Cover maps of Costa Rica were produced from 1985/1986 to 2013/2014. Post-classification land cover change detection was performed to evaluate the land cover dynamics in Costa Rica. The validation of the land cover maps showed an overall accuracy of 87% for the 2013/2014 map, 93% for the 2000/2001 map and 89% for the 1985/1986 map. Land cover changes between forest and non-forest classes were validated for the period between 2001 and 2011, obtaining an overall accuracy of 86%. Forest age-classes were generated through a multi-temporal analysis of the maps. By linking deforestation dynamics with forest age, a more accurate discussion of the carbon emissions along the time series can be presented.

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Section: "Reducing Emissions From Deforestation and Forest Degradatiomentioning

confidence: 99%

An Operational Framework for Land Cover Classification in the Context of REDD+ Mechanisms. A Case Study from Costa Rica

et al. 2016

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“…Most region-scale maps of forest cover based on multispectral or SAR satellite imagery do not distinguish tree plantations and tree crops from other forest types [7,8] and often combine them with secondary forests [6,[9][10][11][12][13]. This consolidation of forest types can oversimplify and mask key ecological differences that are important for monitoring forest change, biodiversity, and carbon stocks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Government payments to establish tree plantations during the 1980s led to a large pulse of reforestation [9,[25][26][27][28][29][30], and the recent 1996 Forestry Law (no. 7575) further encouraged tree plantation establishment through payments for environmental services (PES) [31][32][33][34][35].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping Species Composition of Forests and Tree Plantations in Northeastern Costa Rica with an Integration of Hyperspectral and Multitemporal Landsat Imagery

et al. 2015

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An efficient means to map tree plantations is needed to detect tropical land use change and evaluate reforestation projects. To analyze recent tree plantation expansion in northeastern Costa Rica, we examined the potential of combining moderate-resolution hyperspectral imagery (2005 HyMap mosaic) with multitemporal, multispectral data (Landsat) to accurately classify (1) general forest types and (2) tree plantations by species composition. Following a linear discriminant analysis to reduce data dimensionality, we compared four Random Forest classification models: hyperspectral data (HD) alone; HD plus interannual spectral metrics; HD plus a multitemporal forest regrowth classification; and all three models combined. The fourth, combined model achieved overall accuracy of 88.5%. Adding multitemporal data significantly improved classification accuracy (p < 0.0001) OPEN ACCESSRemote Sens. 2015, 7 5661 of all forest types, although the effect on tree plantation accuracy was modest. The hyperspectral data alone classified six species of tree plantations with 75% to 93% producer's accuracy; adding multitemporal spectral data increased accuracy only for two species with dense canopies. Non-native tree species had higher classification accuracy overall and made up the majority of tree plantations in this landscape. Our results indicate that combining occasionally acquired hyperspectral data with widely available multitemporal satellite imagery enhances mapping and monitoring of reforestation in tropical landscapes.

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“…In addition, plantations established on previous pastureland may have contributed indirectly to deforestation by displacing pastures. A similar dynamic has already been discussed for cropland expansion over pastures [91]. Conversion of forest to pasture corresponded to 70% of the deforestation over 1987-2013 [88], and was in particular responsible for the clearing of mature forests [91].…”

Section: Use Of Plantations For Pallet Production: Competition With Nmentioning

confidence: 55%

“…A similar dynamic has already been discussed for cropland expansion over pastures [91]. Conversion of forest to pasture corresponded to 70% of the deforestation over 1987-2013 [88], and was in particular responsible for the clearing of mature forests [91]. Plantations' establishment on former pastures may also have prevented the regeneration of more environmentally valuable natural forests, although regeneration would have depended on several factors such as distance to sources of propagules or intensity of site degradation.…”

Section: Use Of Plantations For Pallet Production: Competition With Nmentioning

confidence: 70%

Unexpected Interactions between Agricultural and Forest Sectors through International Trade: Wood Pallets and Agricultural Exports in Costa Rica

Jadin

Meyfroidt

Pereira

et al. 2016

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International market forces have played an increasingly important role in shaping land use dynamics through complex supply chains. In Costa Rica, the shift from a net loss to a net gain in forest cover was facilitated by forest plantations and the replacement of extensive cropland and pastures by export-oriented, high-yielding crops. However, agricultural intensification generated several feedbacks affecting forests. We analyzed the interactions between Costa Rica's agricultural and forestry sectors associated with the use of wood pallets for commodity exports over 1985-2013. Wood pallets for growing agricultural exports created a demand for domestic tree plantations. The annual land demand for tree plantations to produce these wood pallets increased by 669%, reaching 17,606 ha in 2013 and representing 28% of the increase in demand for cropland for agricultural exports over 1994-2013. Wood supplied from plantations failed to fully substitute for wood from natural forests, only allowing for a relative substitution and preventing a major sparing of these forests. The dominant use of wood from plantations for production of low-value pallets de-incentivized investments in sustainable plantations. We showed that, beyond the typical interactions between agriculture and forestry through direct competition for land, international trade generated unexpected feedback where agricultural activities and supply chains affected forestry by triggering new demand and profound changes in forestry management. Land systems behave as complex systems, calling for integrated approaches to study the outcomes of forest conservation, reforestation programs, and development of land-based businesses.

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Land cover dynamics following a deforestation ban in northern Costa Rica

Cited by 89 publications

References 60 publications

An Operational Framework for Land Cover Classification in the Context of REDD+ Mechanisms. A Case Study from Costa Rica

An Operational Framework for Land Cover Classification in the Context of REDD+ Mechanisms. A Case Study from Costa Rica

Mapping Species Composition of Forests and Tree Plantations in Northeastern Costa Rica with an Integration of Hyperspectral and Multitemporal Landsat Imagery

Unexpected Interactions between Agricultural and Forest Sectors through International Trade: Wood Pallets and Agricultural Exports in Costa Rica

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