Peru's deforestation rate surged in 2005
Rhett Butler
August 30, 2007


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Peru's deforestation rates surged in 2005, according to new analysis published in the journal Science.


Deforestation rates in Peru, 1999-2005


Comparison of deforestation rates in Brazil and Peru between 1999 and 2005. Images by Rhett A. Butler
Using high resolution satellite data from the Peruvian Amazon, a team led by Stanford University scientists found a marked increase in forest disturbance and clearance for the 2004-2005 year. Forest degradation for the year -- including 1,174 square kilometers of forest cleared and 1,070 disturbed -- was about 175 percent of the mean for the six-year period examined.

The researchers say that new logging concessions appear to have been a factor in the increase in forest disturbance between 2003 and 2005. Higher commodity prices for agricultural products may have also played a part.

The research nonetheless revealed some positive results.

"Overall, only 2% of the forest disturbances and 1% the deforestation detected in the entire study area occurred within the boundaries of natural protected areas. Furthermore, territories occupied by indigenous communities contained 11% and 9% of the total forest disturbance and deforestation, respectively," wrote the authors. "These results clearly show that these two forms of land-use allocation can provide effective protection against forest damage."

Peru has some 661,000 square kilometers of tropical forests—an area a little larger than France—and one of the lowest annual deforestation rates in the Amazon basin.

More details on the research can be found at Experts: parks effectively protect rainforest in Peru.

CITATION: P.J.C. Oliveira, G.P. Asner, D.E. Knapp, A. Almeyda, R. F. Raybin, A. Almeyda, R. Galván-Gildemeister, R.C. Smith, and S. Keene. (2007). Land-Use Allocation Protects the Peruvian Amazon. SCIENCE VOL 317 31 AUGUST 2007
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