A Look at Amazon Basin Seasonal Dynamics with the Biophysical ...

Selective Logging, Forest Fragmentation and FireDisturbance: Implications of Interaction and SynergyMark A. Cochrane, David L. Skole, Eraldo A.T. Matricardi, Christopher Barber andWalter Chomentowski.Basic Science and Remote Sensing Initiative, Department of Geography, East Lansing,MI, USAWorking forests are premised upon sustainable management, however, ecosystems aremandated by disturbance. Therefore, conservation and management of forests requiresknowledge of past, present and, to the extent possible, future disturbances. Tropicalforests are increasingly impacted by degrading activities as well as outright deforestation.Landscapes have been transformed from continuous tracts of unbroken forest intomosaics of pastures, agricultural plots and forest fragments that have often been subjectedto varying degrees of increased disturbance from sun, wind, fire and logging operations.Multitemporal case studies from within the Brazilian Amazon are used to illustrate thelinkages and synergy between forest fragmentation, selective logging and forest fire. Ageographic information system is then used to quantitatively and spatially relatedisturbance across the landscape so that spatially articulated disturbance regimes can bemapped. These maps provide both knowledge of the current state of existing forests aswell as the likely future of given parcels of forest. Preliminary results have shown thatforest fragmentation and forest fire are directly linked, with fires becoming edge effectsthat penetrate kilometers into standing forests. Selective logging also exacerbates fireprobability but with effects at larger distances from forest edges. In typical anthropogeniclandscapes, fragmentation effects, fire and logging can involve nearly all of the remainingforests and pose special challenges for sustainable management of these resources.