Abstract
Two maps depicting the forest resources of Peninsular Malaysia, one dated 1972 and the other 1982, were digitized into ARC/INFO for analysis of spatial and temporal trends. Estimates of 1972 and 1982 biomass density for each of 11 forest classes were also produced from inventory stand tables. These data allowed us to calculate changes in forest cover and biomass during the decade. Overall, forest area was reduced by 17%, and total biomass by 28%; however, this percentage varied among forest classes. For example, primary forest area declined by 23% while its biomass was reduced by 35%; disturbed forest area declined by 7% while its biomass was reduced by 19%. These data indicate that, in addition to loss of forest biomass because of changes in land use, biomass degradation was also occurring within the forests. Together, they represented a loss of 30 TgC/yr. Changes in perimeter area ratios were correlated with the degree of biomass degradation suggesting that the fragmentation of Malaysian forests, a process that increases their accessibility, was a cause of the degradation.
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Brown, S., Iverson, L.R., Lugo, A.E. (1994). Land-Use and Biomass Changes of Forests in Peninsular Malaysia from 1972 to 1982: A GIS Approach. In: Dale, V.H. (eds) Effects of Land-Use Change on Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations. Ecological Studies, vol 101. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8363-5_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8363-5_4
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