Unaccounted for nonforest vegetation loss in the Brazilian Amazon

• Published in: Communications Earth & Environment
• Main Authors: Cassiano Gustavo Messias, Cláudio A. de Almeida, Daniel E. Silva, Luciana S. Soler, Luis E. Maurano, Vagner L. Camilotti, Fábio C. Alves, Libério J. da Silva, Mariane S. Reis, Thiago C. de Lima, Vivian Renó, Deborah L. C. Lima, Amanda P. Belluzzo, Camila B. Quadros, Delmina C. M. Barradas, Douglas R. V. de Moraes, Eduardo F. M. Bastos, Igor P. Cunha, Jefferson J. de Souza, Lucélia S. de Barros, Luiz Henrique A. Gusmão, Rodrigo de Almeida, Dayane R. V. de Moraes, Diego M. Silva, Eduardo H. S. Chrispim, João Felipe S. K. C. Pinto, Manoel R. Ribeiro Neto, Marlon Henrique H. Matos, Noeli Aline P. Moreira, Raíssa C. dos S. Teixeira, Gabriel M. R. Alves, Ana Carolina S. de Andrade, Letícia P. Perez, Bruna Maria P. Bento, Hugo C. de Castro Filho, Igor S. dos Santos, Liliane Cristina L. de Araújo, Maira Matias, Murilo B. da Silva, Fábio da C. Pinheiro, André Carvalho, Haron Xaud, Maristela Xaud, Ana Paula Matos, Luis Baumann, Elaine B. da Silva, Laerte Guimarães Ferreira, Marcos Adami
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-08-01
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01542-0
• ISSN: 2662-4435

Abstract The Brazilian Amazon Satellite Monitoring Program (PRODES Amazonia) tracks forest loss in the Brazilian Amazon but excludes about 6.6% ( ~ 280,000 km²) of non-forest vegetation (NF). Here we developed the PRODES NF system to address this gap by adapting the well-established methodology of PRODES Amazonia. Initial findings from PRODES NF show that the Brazilian Amazon lost 10.46% ( ~ 30,000 km²) of NF area, mainly in the last two decades, with the estates of Mato Grosso, Roraima, and Amapá being primary hotspots of losses. Savannas were the most affected (13.3% of their extent). NF loss strongly correlates (r = 0.87; p < 0.0001) with deforestation, suggesting a continuum of vegetation loss in the biome regardless of the predominant vegetation type. Combining data from PRODES Amazonia and PRODES NF reveals an official estimate of ~798,000 km² in total primary vegetation loss ( ~ 19% of the entire biome) in the Brazilian Amazon by 2022.