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Roadside Measurements of Deforestation in the Amazon Area of Bolivia

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Abstract

This study describes the deforestation impact from three settlements, 5 de Junio, El Tigre, and 30 de Agosto, near the Madidi National Park in Bolivia. First deforestation rates along the road that connects the settlements and then deforestation within each settlement are examined. Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery from 1987, 1997, and 2000 were used to measure the deforestation. Face-to-face interviews were also used to collect detailed social and land-use information. Road-building and farming have been the major causes of deforestation in this region. The TM measurements indicate a high increase in the deforestation rate along the road in the area of study. The results also show a rapidly escalating deforestation rate in 5 de Junio, a potential high future deforestation rate in El Tigre, and a gradual deforestation increase in 30 de Agosto. The information provided by the settlers about clearing was compared with the imagery analysis. Generally, the settler’s estimates were lower than the deforestation as derived from the imagery.

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Acknowledgements

The field research for this study was supported by George Mason University and Conservation International-Bolivia. We acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Claudio Cardona in the field research and the useful comments of Professors Larry Rockwood, Lee Talbot, and Tom Dietz. We want to particularly thank the communities of 5 de Junio, El Tigre, and 30 de Agosto for their cooperation and openness. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Conservation International.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Conservation International, 1919 M Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036, USA

    Claudia Cordona Locklin

  2. Department of Geography, MSN 1E2, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030, USA

    Barry Haack

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  1. Claudia Cordona Locklin
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  2. Barry Haack
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Correspondence to Barry Haack.

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Locklin, C., Haack, B. Roadside Measurements of Deforestation in the Amazon Area of Bolivia. Environmental Management 31, 774–783 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-002-2867-4

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