Selective logging and shifting agriculture may help maintain forest biomass on the Yucatan peninsula

Evaluation and monitoring of forest biomass are important to help combat global warming and conserve biodiversity. Above ground biomass (AGB) mapping has been effectively used to assess forest loss, degradation, and recovery in the tropics. In this study, temporal (2007, 2010, and 2015) AGB maps were developed for the Mayan Zone of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico integrating vegetation data from the National Forest Inventory (NFI) with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image data (ALOS PALSAR). We assess if degradation could be attributed to the land use categories present in the study area: selectively logged forest, shifting agriculture, permanent commercial cultivation, and conservation forest. Spatial autoregressive models are applied to determine differences in AGB dynamics between land use categories, compared to baselines of mature conserved forest. We find that forest biomass remains stable in the study area. AGB does not differ in selectively logged areas compared to conserved mature forests. Biomass losses are observed due to deforestation for commercial cropping and pasture. AGB in shifting agriculture areas, however, fluctuates and shows a slight gain from 2007 to 2015. AGB mapping using NFI data and SAR imagery has the potential for monitoring forest loss and degradation on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Automated summary

Evaluation and monitoring of forest biomass are crucial for addressing global warming and preserving biodiversity. This study developed temporal above ground biomass (AGB) maps for the Mayan Zone of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico using National Forest Inventory (NFI) vegetation data and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image data. The study found that forest biomass remains stable, with no significant difference between selectively logged areas and conserved mature forests. Biomass losses were observed due to deforestation for commercial cultivation and pasture, while shifting agriculture areas showed slight AGB gains. The mapping approach using NFI data and SAR imagery has great potential for monitoring forest loss and degradation in the Yucatan Peninsula.