2018/09/13 by Philip G. Curtis, Christy M. Slay, Nancy L. Harris +2 · 6 citations
Environmental Science · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management #Forest Management and Policy #Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
paper · doi:10.1126/science.aau3445
openalex publication_date 2018/09/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
Global maps of forest loss depict the scale and magnitude of forest disturbance, yet companies, governments, and nongovernmental organizations need to distinguish permanent conversion (i.e., deforestation) from temporary loss from forestry or wildfire. Using satellite imagery, we developed a forest loss classification model to determine a spatial attribution of forest disturbance to the dominant drivers of land cover and land use change over the period 2001 to 2015. Our results indicate that 27% of global forest loss can be attributed to deforestation through permanent land use change for commodity production. The remaining areas maintained the same land use over 15 years; in those areas, loss was attributed to forestry (26%), shifting agriculture (24%), and wildfire (23%). Despite corporate commitments, the rate of commodity-driven deforestation has not declined. To end deforestation, companies must eliminate 5 million hectares of conversion from supply chains each year.