Communications Earth & Environment (Aug 2024)

Unaccounted for nonforest vegetation loss in the Brazilian Amazon

  • 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

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01542-0
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 5, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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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.