USING MULTITEMPORAL SATELLITE DATA TO EVALUATE SELECTIVE LOGGING IN PARA, BRAZIL

Clear cutting in tropical forests is common. A newer phenomenon, selec tive logging, is evident in Amazonia when examined with high-resolutio n satellite data. We have quantified selective logging by digitizing s atellite imagery and have found that it is much more difficult to dete ct than clear cutting. Selective logging is likely under-reported in s atellite imagery-based estimates of change in Amazonia as the visible signal of selective logging may be evident for only a limited time. We have found that the areas affected by selective logging have increase d over time and have become more widely distributed. Little land selec tively logged, perhaps 10%, was converted to pasture. Selective loggin g altered 12% of the total forested area of one study region, yet was undetectable in satellite imagery three years later. It is unclear how long the visual clues of selective logging will remain apparent in sa tellite imagery in subsequent years.