Multitemporal analysis of deforestation in the Chonta watershed, southeastern Peruvian Amazon
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55873/racba.v2i1.421Keywords:
agriculture, forest, cover change, deforestation, remote sensingAbstract
The study quantified forest loss in the Chonta watershed (southern Peruvian Amazon) from 1984 to 2019 using supervised classification of Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 OLI satellite imagery to distinguish forest from non-forest areas. Results show a cumulative loss of 43% of the original forest cover, corresponding to an average annual rate of 1.23%, with a strong acceleration after 2000. This trend has intensified landscape fragmentation, reduced ecological connectivity, and increased the vulnerability of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The main drivers identified were shifting agriculture, extensive cattle ranching, illegal logging, and alluvial gold mining, all amplified by improved accessibility linked to the Interoceanic Highway. Without urgent interventions, the watershed may exceed critical thresholds of irreversible degradation; therefore, the study recommends environmental education and technical training for local producers to promote agroforestry systems, agroecology, and land-use planning to safeguard this Amazonian hotspot.
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