4 Deforestation in Madagascar - Christian Kull

20 Pages·2014·8.28 MB·English

4 Deforestation in Madagascar

Debates over the istand’s
forest cover and challenges of
measuring forest change

William J. McConnell amet Choistian A. Kull

Introduction

Forests — and their alaeuve ~ are finehping hetneen Macher’ bile
richness, degradation by humans, and censsrvaton action, Mc of the
jseatin lor eanseration action depen ou lestiptons ef previous
testcase forests being rt al bree on dcusnentason ofthe thea to
the pateaes hat seman, ane on seceest in sling or stopping defovents
Hon. Rarest cover large f high feu oulecme ofthe different Lina
ff human in etetansewith te eusitanaent sive the island was seed
(Figures 4.1 ane 2; see also Chapter 3 by Bessan-and €)

This chapter iwesigater measureivents of fnew enser au i eee om

or B by Scale)

‘he lal, andl formes attention ou ie intnical challenges sal srl
rantest ofthat eienttie efor,

The lowe woody vegetation in
ena pees vd tires is stong? eal sets ies reduce the wor
fermer af the band’s iterios ove asin age (Bune ots 2004),
‘efnesatian frontier has progresiely sped jalan ao ee co
ver meen! centuries (Brand, 1998), and crams clesuce france rm
tiaion hacamerted the souhsest ie eerent eraser (Hip ety 207)
Yet the science pf measuring forest area in dillerent tw psi ame ot
asvesing change to that fest eave, wing histories dat, photon ane
Satellite images is suupr singly mesey sn difcult, These ate ie cs
Wi sategores, ith sale, ard sith ether aspecs of change swan
Furthermore, tho srio ser ntmesaning amd quan feforesta tact
place in a social contest, cme where retain dcowsses ane mstaphort
fondtien the Kinde af questions that ate asked td he Ks of resale
tae are highliped (Lavsem, 2011). I the eave of Madhagavea, there i. 9
Alominant normative snderstanding of enirounestal shane Which a
ldylic and nanoveick isl spy despoiel by a bngeoning una
population, wapprel in x spiral of poverty and deeasaton {Kl 2000)
‘This has enconrayed, wr ange, the eons peaisience fn the Rerauare of
certain dubionslesinnred ane nove outated stats slaiming-vith eave
certainty that fn M9 peecent ofthe island's original fares ts gone. The

wiclenee forthe defacestaion of isige
(8 Wii teCann ad Chitin

igor 41 Fest patches in the bglunds landscape, Are thee ages of
febrestvon o- tnesatha? Top ft NE oF tore, ces on
the ridge ee vies eucahpts ar other epee pnted 3 grass
by peeple. re nie hi allo, wh I acre te thew
“ent ante' eesorplated fa es both Top eight ear
She alee ova tn fem ighlanes): lege re fhe
foes (ea bye Held) tow pine panaons in the dst,
‘Rt Isr north of Sororotey isa landscape“ preeea of
oloniaion ara feet (nol wh ateapt. Noto igh
“Scutne elnategrelond anf theese ent Nat sa

Soomro al 905 030,

toss of forest in sume pontions of the island is as we ve eviewed eae,
‘runavie enongh that sues exaggerations are unnecesa. These exaggers
tions are even peteataly hal in thar they can undernine sientiic
fautriy, put blinders on the types of questions that are asked nd pts
to the sidelines important debates about tha impacts of strong ease
policies on nual people

‘hn assesment of deforestation in Macagasear requires an zuays's of
fovest coverat illerenteime pots We evew he dataand debates over hi
torial and consemparery forest coves This involves eeviewing the theories
ln exidenee for presetizment forest cover, ard “he published estes
‘oF more recent conditions, boglaning wth the work of colonial botans

Defertaton in Madagaas 69

Pier 42. Coren gestion sone of Malagnene
Soe: 200), i gen oat NG: (280, he aS (100, 62

Lm nd Maa ie ata ps ai on

chnotegy fr observing thee suri soo shea an ae on
space. Wrexpone the degree of divergence hetveen heeding ens
and then fcts in on the cllenge of eaimeing sange, Al aon fae
pours beones inverted = aren thay aed
ane the aporoaces taken reel The woes ad police canoes

'n whieh ubose authors were operating, ‘This leads to investigate nthe
Win f. MeConot wad Clean A Kut

remilimate seein, the socal context in wich a petiemar tea the MU
fr percent deforestation hypothe) has persisted, We conclude by pre
Ssutingannnber of recommendations fr improved wedevtencing 0 tre
spit of eridencebase’ poles making

-Hovt much forest was there ‘originally?

the quetion of wha de landscapes of Madagascar :okel ike “xg
marys Zar From settled (see Chapter 3 9y ie ‘The answer amet
te be quite iene depending on the specie region concerned, an

“Terie orignal s rae tomean before loa eco before ie

Seti orse-lement bse it ha is ate en he
ier eeeage ora some eer pote, Over re st 120 yen, pb

ute tas abut the land “orig! yeetaton hae ated yay
Tova ad others detrotngthepehvay presence 0” gray bias,
Fri ithe highlands Toe forme css pete offen rooted in
bloga peeapeaves ranging om clinsacbaed eologal theo 0
iapere-ime conceptions o tre a dis beey clon. ate
stud ingens people's soe management, Fsdence for
Newer any rangd ron cml empire observations of forest
itunre pas zones to place ats refering to rode extant
taeda to bat sts fen fi to igoronsaalses 1 hoge
(Sophia iayttes oval incoea pe pesolgy fos hes ke
Srinath lent liens and batenl!

Prenat elem fo tis chapter at2 Ge tacos af clo ae
age ee be [192 ER) at et (82,146 1958),
Sih ged that ores vegetation enered neatly of Made gascarbefore
iano ements thet cancion Tis rgd been taken at fre ae
fiat mater in meen pnblcaons ate repans,shaping ae
Show ner, Ihe teporing of Frese snge tats, Mesa, sient
{re bout eed vegetation conus wi net fun of
‘Tene emerging (ene el ly 200, 200, Wine ta, 2005, Bue ay
Song Var Se ny, 2008; ute ea, 2012), Esplin fos se
March i aear posible to nae excl eandlsions Fis te eng
SON Ste Perieetiombet andie rest hypovhsishas bee
Tec shat heads gests ands sari of noeorestveetaion
ree predate humeas on the stn y ghtnng, nomen
Se tite, a newex eateries, Seon en ae
sity altered che vegeta covert thea since er aria, i
‘Sreegelanel sonra the expense of vocal weeton Un Oe
‘Tia covert tte janie loin peal response 0 ck
‘Stcaty een pesenpting ad enacting, Fh, he 0

opt erento dlerent geographic regions. Hall any esate o

WT

Dafoestation ia Madagascar 7
low much Forest was theve historically?

Wh is wo mpeg dt the exten au roe ofthe orga” frest
over dving te ts fueron nt coke pees (ue T8006 1860)
{Pl nov tly sled. The esate uf minaret seme,
fa foeters = based St sn ld asserts anaes TS, ot ee
estens rom at poor reid at tmes my een ume
fsfectng difereuces In spproac and wave, na eve sina ne

acy mapping efforts can be tahoe to unny sn sc
ss Jue Slee, iar 1879 nap ans Ce uta af deo fore
thine #3) Like ich mapa the ati of the pis pats
Crna of Magan ct ame wa ne yeh eo he
iret ad theirs sr many arene, Ente aed ely
xi cl nd Cable)

ica (1960) rade the fie emp swe rete Set dat
compere ean te sant fone ines, ane nail pl
togriy-dusng World War I had era ench 9 ae ngery
Dest LOD and 157 taser aun: bans Me cons 100000
topegraphicmap sciaancsmoresjtenate spantieon of Nadas
In tener. The eacogrphy wae not yet canteen Gans paper

YW patched, but be drew reasurace tat hs aposinato
1217402ah of gy and nowedralfnen sorted il ie
evtinats cf CivodGavet st the ae sina of Laat, al ti
Cra of 15,781,722 ttl st rade sie) eset
roche the note recent estima a Paster el Ele (1986). Whee
incuingstoure otro wood savanny Guin’ este ox
vapors

the sme ait phowos were ls use ly Hh Hubert a estes Yo
rene a Tendinath nap of Yegelatine an he rep aecompayig
the map, thes ean 19812000 ot Tove orator (aber ad

Cours Dae, 196 fer pH, to mat pel a een ete

sire inluded or exch. Sunequemt work belo sme ae

Photoalto soma eren cou athe ale

tin thats ie carmon ssonng the ee alone of deen

sh by ten ssi hrm be sa ye oa
6 repo: om the nado oven enc eae Ee Ret

Nato or HEN) Init" 808 fe IEFN cj pee fortes

fret cove states fr 14-5, preety base on vse

‘eval pistes (DEF ct, 1895) ia sng te consent)

‘ih which swe eanates were handled A Fle 48 hon erent eat

fein of fret ge ded foro) Hea te Core gre

Ieonstent gues vet rethoeogia silereees or Foon me

Fundy wie net cipdilaa, sad the Your iin oe nee
wap tSe an

y

teu 43 Janes Sbre'189) Pen Mayo adage ens the xt

Fe ere icenouered ty nay slr eee igh ros)
Sia ges poten resol abe rnghy representa oe
‘tite bree fens me ci cork shang Lg eg
eer sites pele fegtac

Daforstaton in Monngasar 73
Tole Colo pclae alg’ fire: eee

how no eear end, parla concring Gachon'e nesta neh he sags Uae 1)
iS Tt tie ev gene a ue ae

AA second example of how okt sats are mel andl mined comes fm
Hagper eta. (3007), whic cnans the most Free published stinate
aye are avare of based ws he xine air borage hs, They digit the
Humbert and Couus Dates (1) mip ane! preset a estimate nt
1957 foresecover diff. agin from al prev interpretations Fei

icluconssteaces the IEF repors, Harper etl lea a conten ete
feuce wall and fly saplan neidier thelr clicky of forest ips eluded in
the Ggute nor how ir nunabers were derived (Table #2)

The exampiesilnve show how maldeningly- frustrating ellos to quan-
Uy Coren caver awe Veen. Not only have sents str agge wit the
cul nd vast evan ava the enoveity of the task ol nationeviee ir
phot analysis, ut ein tendency to alitximinate, liiny togethers and
Supls iflvent caegories of ovest eer ae lel to much conten,

biel, itapjears,isexacerbate by ae rattention in using older work

Su, lu much fares was theve historically? Cleat the eyeball estimates
Shou Iv fate 18005 onwarls are quite divergent and wot use withont
Agent eiamgolaion vt «ler vegan: al datespecicvources As ar 38
lhe air photos acqui-ec betwen 1249 nd 1987, one may posi conchule
hat the seal exteut uf the mm forest categories (excluding scans)
asm the orer uf 16 vaillionhetares, The hig ly variable fovea rover
figures circoaing i eerie result fro dieting eefitons of ar
éstoith changes neat graphic weckclogy ase comutting, Tee ses
tye developed nov fly bet, fllong a review vf the ork estan
fovea cover lin sice,

Mow much forest was the

recently?
‘Anstronnd of nitions estimetes of foxes cover emerge in the LBs,
enethung fom the new, space age telitaluyies of satel chased remote
BB sing, Au foe we we can-cacercain tha test asdndied say of staclasrar'y
000601

co@MD Moar}

Trainin po pw wns fy Se A OE OP Ne Ue

oem amon ly sums “Shorey

soa

sexo a 2256
“Titian £ McCune and Chien A, Kul

fewest cover frou slit inagay expoged lua interpretation of punted
Hinages rom dhe Lanusat Mulia Seance (MSS) sews aepie in

te 7 CFaramalia, 198%). sl ot ele 2 amare estinate of fe
‘et cover, explaining thet clo camer sine ais posible (Fara,

Misses p47}. However the aap walter glad Caza, 1095) amd
{see by Pay and oat (LOG), uo cepore tha i rescaled 10,7400
Of tprmany segetalon”inchidng ees gen ane eleieluoas forest, 96 well
Ssmengiove and narsland, The INFN report (DET etal, 1996, p75: cites
‘ae pulsed by Faracnalala (16) a0 the sone for an estate of
Th8I2.000ha of fres.* This Hnchnles 19.076009ha of evingieen fore,

Ikely ering fom the Du Pay aid Moa (990) estimate i the exchasion
fl mngrore and/or masse. Late, Nausea (00) repoted Ce
‘da thom Faramala (1981)[e) reveal. 19,008,200 of dense oni ane
tense ey forest aswell 8 nangcone When they ad 'seconclany comple!

Urey ind a toa 96 U3 84,400 sich wn eerste the esos for
the elaciepancis (albeit nos) ener there ies and dase reported by
Deteta {06h ss they are presoahiy asec on he saan digital polygons,

‘Mote recently Harper etal, (2077) exploited MSS laa from the same
pried a Faranalala, reporting tal of 1701,0NC uf hunnid crys an
nny forest engrave Late aor aralae’, ri study's "Table °
fantains an anh ete error aud the ota of the thie lise categories is
fcinally 138,300}, The total fogestesinae eile yas uel as 12 pes
ent frgm those reported by the IEFN (DEF etal 19865) ae Mayan ta
{200}, Is fkely that mach ofthe difevence is arilur able 1 lilfexeut
tnetFodlogies wile Feramaaly wie! via Iterpzetacion of printed sat
tite images, LLnper et al ecesfied images fms dhe ene fie psi
‘Tgially sing astieried clesfeation veclnlge see Bux te)

Suisequentarcoidesicieshave employed varity esteie tne
taking adtamage of not only Landat but ako ber ladon ov «xan
ple Nelson and Honing (1998) used tarew Loral Atea Coverage (6)
Sects aceite 19) aol 101 by dhe Advanced Very High Revelation
Eacoeter (ANEIRBQ sensor to deve an esti 091 800 of forest
Infour boclinatesogetation sores (ralorest haruonel tas, ane png)
Te sty employee an atomatet easdcaon proceanne wi Landsat MSS
Dhowoproductsserving to "train tye ase ane anal (1981563)
flataasa relerence map to evaate the qual ofthe psi?

The LEN repo (DEF eta, 1986) conebute nes napping o Fores
cover base on vial interpretation of Landsat TM (Thematic Mappes
faa trom 190-1994, Fporandy, this mapping wes aciamsuned by
ttensives dealed Ceivark i diferent Yegetadon types. Th ana
Festhed in an esta eof 126,000 ha of forest, inching, 5,062,000) of
cvengieen forest

“Tte next sini assessment (Mau etal, 2006) use data rah
the SPOT VEGETATION instranaent, which collers dau at oyhly the
eed rewhition 9) AVHER-LAG. The smdy used 50 wereday lai

.

Diisation in Marogoent

emposies om 30% an 1999 (ce wel composes mine va
Hesacriviion, hil the tine sae akon ndweteye of vegetion pa
fly) Av the Nokon andl Hani (189) sens seatemeed
Tosa perforid wg aren IES} alo ree
fied Nae 0) ys wa 10% ae
SactngUOA04100ba of an: i ense dy ane mange
ov with 7,198}, 00ha of seuwenlay” Forest =

ie mon eee secant of lagna and cose pied in
{he yeenrevioved luerause i ese in Harper ea (007 Forest
over in he “905 no nh wong Lams TM tt ing ge
GE IG60570Cha Comtiving aur categories 0° “pany” Maly
Shinya stgron feuds te Sinan roid the sear 200, ang
{Binh ETMo (Extncet Theta Mer) ylded a earn fe
A8820D%u, Tho conser ss thn the compara Ftiate
{Sian cs, 200),

2 voc yp plied ya eooxoitiom of ait States Agents
{or nessa evetpen: (CAND) partners (Clea, 200) enters
Harpe eas sus fo 2009 ining nui ofthese ela snd ec
hig. Caray, wile the ap tla ese Tr e100 pate
Aan othe toe pubtsed in Harpevetal 2007), the mag's eae
for cizito (96r7,701ha) senders, higher tha Ihe eater gers
(G52 108) else he Styne a BUN) he Thera
tte forest cover e260 a6 17 an, No enpnaton prot on
the sep ofthe reson fv the reson From Irw elneen ena
Stemi thcsomeshing Iketen non heetarspraylore exe
HMcund the end of he tweet eet

The divergent resus of theo sles empasze he cysin which
sigerenceshngis -boedun diferent mts osmapions nel te
4a ores ad chaeacon methodngies- tence ener
Df sunret foes! cover ithe next sein, we sez te imp ean oF

ae oss fr meaning Soest cote change, Est, Howe we ould
2a auc f remote eensing data fy suteational leone ages
ib Malaga, Ty are cop nome‘ous ty reve heve (sone hurt
aulet inclade Green ard Sussman 1980, vich we eset bee at
‘et Fey, 200% Mec ea, 290, Agarwal a 2005; Ten
¢ aly 208 agen, 200; Flt ly 200% Sealy is emer
f¢ ay 2012}. ih emer hese cegonal tiie, sat should es
belt in mina panany when deling ith nein once te
lpi the sxe ein) te ha chokes ener sale at oss ea
Saw x ijrimpartn st ind incsion of ge non toes eae
vil er forest over rates antalya can one ng the wale a
analysis, by exelucling siall pacches. .
18 Willow, MeConuel and hitan A, Kell

“What are the tends in forest cover? The challenges of
quantcative change assesment

1 simplest way to present change in forest cover iso comp le esis
sr patinlae tine points al present them in tabular or graphic form,
Tries the approach employed by Guichor (1960) (Laie 411 ad subse
quentathors ine uding Nelson and Hornig (198), the EEN (DEF etal,
TONE), Metonaell (2008, at Dufis (2003). As explained abuve using the
ese of Gichon (1960), rather than coat buting to an understancing of
‘heeevolnior of forest cover on the fd, hisapproach has instead served
te illsate Me ineamnmensirate mae ofthe Inia estimates and
‘ont ns agains sinple companion, Guichow 1960, pS) suggested
Hee hey seasons for he sigaticant dspnity i he estimates: "(1 the
Aifinitnne elie iypes of ones formations vary among the anthors
(8) ranogeaphieslornmentation ws absent, issn oF imprecise: and
{3} sametines, the fines were deformed, consciously rots oer ta
proweatheccar siya raion” Iauthors’ naston)

Teen rxsnine qa, reano-eensag based etter of fore
cover chrige im Mga in ig a Ceo fsbo, rather len
fa, cometrtnts "The flowin sertion then addresses the dnd, perhaps
more contentions, sr. W i owt jut in Madagascar chit ely uring
Setinitons of forest have fons those hoping to understand defor
fesation, Indeed, the FAC) (he N's Fond and Agacnleral Organization,
the oreniast eho m gle fest rower) artended 5 -anopy lose
lbveihold in hesween tn ieee yal Forest Resomrce Assessnens
fis order wo be abe vo sercumt fr impstan changes in wood cover in
sushi part of Abies, mel of whic werld have brew missed under the
sor deflaicon ‘The efor required ta ees por es ates to mate the
few defiton ns substantia, atthe weverdave undermines confidence
inthe comparable af the data aero svensnents Rudel et al, 205)

‘Thislnicis eeceneuated in Mab gvre the wide range af environmen:
telemditions in hich tees geonron te ban, While eave nite.
Fives on Mewasern escarpment woud mee just shout ansone's detiniion
‘0 Fines, salen paccas in this Tans, 8 well a8 gallery Teests and
Somer nll of the highlands rad west est may vot partiensarly

srhaes syn on sate snes that form images ofthe earth's suas
ina, Ay, or even Thin pixels The ise is even mre gronourced in
"he pin nea of he arid shot, while mangrove formations present heir
rn riqu st of eallenpes uc tothe high degree ef noste below the
"cmp, cumple the special ignacarecegistered bythe satelite, The
proMn af furonsient cha acterization of blaagascin's land cover Wa
perks wnt wsefily sures by Lawty ct al, 1907}, who vee he
ising a gettin classifiers in Madagatear ad argue fou an "abe
tive approach to chamlogcal analysis and. piystognontic espsitesion
Jn Madgiay’ {p10}. Av esevier n the prsceding setin, mapping

Dafowsation mu ttagavar 7

effort Molagsoea have pc define Kes acconding 0 the cape
ps ofthe sewers they employ aa she wnat pardenla: post, Ts
fans Toren cone

Peslape the most willy cts. say denestaden in Males
tng vente ered dat was couche ly Green at Sus (10,
The sly compared orga!” xcs (ws sunce ced) and te Hamer
rd Cots De mage ont ance (hve ou 1819-1397 ae poe
fapty) wi the soy cvs expen Lanae M88 nay oe
1965, emctng Da Oe ln oot raforess nsset at ate
F185 pseu pe yas Ba the 1950 10 the 1808, We cannot Know fo
Ht egos the xenon lyase stots periods level, Ueease
Drie ssond prllem thew by Guichen: inset of cog
Gocinentadon Uafaonel the Green aed Susan (1990) crete he
frets wee celle en ecuson oe omar
erga cpl toavahce theo ery alten data sees

Ssubsegunt,ateiecormpaacve sy hy Pails (203) aso sod
daca vn he Hoan at Cass Dae (118) nap as nell a hose
feom the EFS (be ea, 196) aad Mayne a. (2000)! Where Dus
it ws Gee al Sn (190) sb tang int aceon the
IaateaT hie ener types, Spiel he armed soatexsomparshle
regret fa he ego cote les preseoein these Hee
sours, esen sy he ackovledged the lllovence h chasfieaonschrines
fos these lees, Uisurprsingly he harmonization of categories os
frpertct ed ents dau om the nds reponted* consequence th
forewimp eye marl of fora ype Deen the to see dale
vow key have ed thenavon af the dovestaon ra ot 1 peveen
per year which Dis repre fo rhe 1980s fay Fest presen in the be
evi ws excluded) Untrmnatly, the say ae alte with po
seh en" and arohlenal asunspons about tm pointe’ Lo the
srs exe the txt arknlcges sone of tae hey chatenges it es.
nating ats cage ata he tenes esas My wo cme
from dierent cur cng te However ge ie tes Veet
here the pal santos ws be wed wie.

Th onder io inseparably sng dae estates wed it
eeulg change lates stuly (sper ee aly 2007) nndetok test
imerpretatm fms ingen te 10s 188), 190 (Nd
#2000 (ETM eon in ih he Liberal Cows Dare (1989)
haps Lala, ive ty et ut ese compares by appli
fomvon sea vino dei fret se Boe =e

Using this apo, they cate sea deere. rates in fom
geographic a er he evi Ress ange omy rode mega
Gerineeas frescoes trong pose rates neal he peru
er joa in evisin pone ofthe Bn At the level ofthe ete coat
Be gresles vente thes siehocemecirn en veer nec oobe De TET
a0

[

ian il

itor J. Mav and Ci

Box 41 Using satelite imagery to classify and cover
Sette images ane made p of lagers of daa eileen ferent
pent inelecuomagtetic peta. These ae referred oasspecta
Dan ive suas iad ef eee
ted fee ya ekg et ects

Sing ew ogee cach pein sete ng ean be asd
{io aa une rate ef oes, gst ve enthespeet
sure fm ct eg ees bate

Te see lg oe ae ee
snugerytehther fn anciarame aon) easter
Sey decoys a lnesnor pets the onan Fg 4).

See

[7 Sanartanra ane

eoeenar cmmter
jaa dong eae

—

steps in theaicaton of tebe gery

‘assalyinane

a

___ecrtate ne

wr Ad Bi

L

Dafstation in Madegancar 81

Define lel cover las. While the appropriate setatland cone
iypes fora give eeyinn may eco selevident hey are ayn,
bout. ented che selection of categories aen ams ef he goal,
of che sey aun satis disinguishable in the imagery beng
vse Choices alan hh categories to anayce have proton
thovigh oll unrecagnize lplictins lor pokey (Kel, 2072),

Glob, clasifesion setemes vary enntmously depending om,
biocimatc zane, There exist no sniersal nomenelatine ane
‘unambiguonsdetinigons ofa given land over are rare. A laa
able exctyaion w dis ws recent saly whose alin speed
that Werden aren” wares oF pray segeation coma
bby uee caver at Least seven meters eight wth neighbouring
luces clowns ouching > estan wer i full ea. pre
Hie, in ean chat the canopy isa east 80% closed (Harper
etal, 2007, p2)."

Sele’ ingen. Mealy sis choice follass Gm: the anata!
‘ues, in am objective consideration of the spat spectra and
eanporal cavacteistes oF aiterent sensors with respect to the
tals ces ant eseaseh ques ons. However, in patie
bother considerations often come im py, suc 8 the alas
Faint witha particular sensor. Cn the other hand, sometinns
itis te none ofthe sense tat motivates the and cones change
sey IC This dani yt im een in the estag of the
dew SPOT=4 VEGETATION instrument th he rests epics
compared ta pttsous exercises withthe snily AVITRR hse

rent (Masa etal, 210).

. tis chapter is Hinited wo only she
sees, lngelyhreause the cam acability of eubneticnal std
ses Is hampered hy incommensoate spatial bounds, Wheat the
spate eatent of astndyiarinay defined ny the exten of ap
Stet aetial ahotographs, oF satelite images this cant hive
usr effect onthe rte 0 charg, sine arelathely smal cage
Ji study area extent = 10 insta or exhale aneas Mat are no)
sepresennie of the overall ehaage = cet drastically alter the
‘ver rte of cage. These iso ebnions solution to this an
aillcange nates calculated an sues abiray dete suey ates
‘ust e teated wi exon, Il Ee raore appropiate fa thes
‘oes 19 Imi the reporting to the areal change in ferent pov
tals (eg Vien, 2006) oF to graphed representation of change
Hretwern ie perso (eg. Mngt thy 2007)
value clasificaion acc uae: praetive the tesholdssepaak

ing land rover zategories te. ote foes. and open wend)
fem be quite dition e apply consist and reliably out
2 Wit f Mecano ead Christan A Kall

sev deaf ey expense fe or, eon tery
ae eine fen nt pe erect,
sats Fp exe spel wb ie Heterogeney of
| ape oca sfc ce ho the spl te (3

ec) atthe savor. As aes in reeaate sensing stu, BD per
an aecuray in eosieced pretty gocdl, yet ts common 0 56
Suds at aet out tn expla single igh pveentage dianges
Tan cover trom nages easel slonble cgi errs; nore
ter the changes concentrate al along he edges of fan case
patches hers the bulk of the fasfctien error nec

aun 19865 cor 1.5 perce pepstatin the preeingac sabe
BRS cast yscenin te 190.00 MBDA ANAC petent er ea
serene abarquenth pied wing nanyofthese some data
ierimigues 1G eal 2067) bulses an veal dcorestator. rate ob
Bi Sneed ce geas dng te 1980s (oly there or the 1860 clifered
Dann tgs ais ela), Tesopesent ne data inating that
Mee ave 638 percent yo far dicing the psiod 2000-205.

ive eet tt ou Hole nf oes cover a part
tar ats ne agce to ig degrees of vein an hat he
Fares cempenndl inthe suman 6 fest cover change The
TREY stoned shone estima ste of age ranging rox Ts han
I psc por year to eect to potest per frat Unfoxsnatly m0
reget there none con seve to verify see, The stl ako
Foca aly engige all in contoonding evi of foresee
socom We sspor tha the wed reson fr this
Senet ret wor pai rut Ee ve as hig fn
wee Sor nuponen co contra he TEV (DEE et ay BB) nape
seen crn of pam fc Heo ey sar da, arr
Ae i ys) Etow Green ar Susngn {1580 213) who adie
eee redder age tase serra fores and plations
aann aa ene, emf, over sce eg Hakow Raniaranion
1 Rate nbs MeCnrel ana Sweeney, 208 Eins tay 2007
snintece the ea portance of setorestaton ane afoesation and
Seton to quan expla these paenomers

eee dhe itil ses pode nfoaation that ca be
sulicudge he tity of dsr eatnates forest coer aa gen poi
anor bes exits of ege We esi Ht bre the wet
aertuns bere aig to eins coucern abu te mains of dif

‘feve anclyst.

Defcctaion in Madagucar 84

jeal Issues and accuracy assessments

Several ses repented ats a the prin se ons
that eamplcate the
tresnrement af ost neal esas in kine aea. Tse
Ua incenssiencies, tw metaodologiral ssonnprons to dfastorl de
freemen’. Beles we expand en ane ptr gpece the ipaeanee
mecssgihe acinacy of the dillon few mapping pide Al emp
the eoletion a salto daa, an the repovy ot reste
‘eon, we ney comment ans ooldemati ase sonverning a
Tite les of Magen forest coer
The stabs of the aerial yogic reco, as endef dhe
soraphic mp sves an he Tsnabert and Couts Dare 11965) ma
fruclyreies onthe sabes opinion, ten irae by dee
{he absenatons swells ly Lreedg of te ways etch fen
Ian covers elect cnight hark othe esmeras nel experience ihe
tala fers er ho 218 1), en he in
is sinee tee valercwne condacted, ic issincaly possible ud
she eenriy ofthe ree, since the anckcape boone ohne camel
nal feeble eeveners (ach secre prographs) ei.
Insite ete eva detalles
fram other Sms) nl ta’ dhe noua nerpraton cr uote
Sruieation slgvthon. or cxnple, Nel :
st ile, Nelo sed Honing 1008) noc
‘he Frat IGRI (wel) datas coma veforonce’ to epor. fl peent
agreement hetween that Stereucs sl thei” AVRRCase foe oe
‘ete, They geen ta spec i while hey aenive Bf percent core
Sponuleer Hetwrrn rhe wonfoest veh othe evo dase te tle Fr
{oven wan ju 1 Sereen, a debe the agrcenicut intel hued
sto lveminnble’(pl272). They sede much of te signee
to eifesesers in she wpe in which she MSS and AVHRR seo mage
the hice, dectiningt suclte on hat propordon of te aierenee
tight be atsibwabl tacos ange nthe landscape ten he PEs
Ana 19907 8
‘Magni ets. (2M0} sed sw same MSSbase dataset wan the
SPOT! bse clsieain, bt bowed sce accuse) ssecnnent On aps
ey Hom contemporaries
kaon ced aha "s reoney” fhe probabil aa poets nd cover
belie ap cregine th soon 7 percent
3 producer's areveary” (he probity that sc lanl ower excgory f-
Getcin locton in th veftrenee dts Wabi the nap)
Si.6percent. nites wore, erp es ex les the map prot
Anil the relerene cn aporoximately 125 pence ofthe eases Tse
Authorsnovet tet jentafthe cvvr isatuibucablew iaprnfortecrsegicaion
BL Wilton j MeCannl ond Chine A at

Tetween their Lk resolution SPOTH VEGETATION data and she 3m
reference data

Similar procecures ay be empluyel o assess acu i stds ae
ing to cletet change in the laederape, For exarnyle, Hyper etal (2007,
pail well comtemporary ground reterence data us calluaie andl to
alae “and rover maps devved front UM imagers, es mating 88.9%
Frearsey in ideniicadon uf lovest and non-orest 1 ein C1990 aut
‘Cone haps each contain erers of approx mately 10 peste, this asx
{questions about ther Ginding of I percent of Ferest los betwen thew
the mapa While cis ikely that xian ofthe ervors canceled es ether
‘out (rt the sense ofthe nee change in forest ever). tems be aie
that the ink of such easification evtars occ: 2 the forest eyes whe
tovcalled "mised pixels (depicting a mictare of Grest and orfovest
over) ptedominale, but also where viost of ezange has occ His
Sapunant to keep these fees sine when inuerpreting He nests of
oresteaner change analyses wien ourneasnremett erraFapprozeies ot
freeeds the a’served Iynaniee, we should temper our canfelenc inthe
fms about the change said have uecunted,

The record of subavoval ies with resect co aver rary assestent
waned, wt some authors (eg Vagen, 2006; Seales, 11) provi
hig dstaled information, while others (eq. Gree and Sissran, 1205
MfeConnel et al, 204) provide Tess rigorous estimates or genera cavea,

"The cutions pessatence of the 90 percent cain

We ave show inthe above ssetions sha: estimates of forest cover before
the remote sensing recor provide dubions beuhnavks and, nove tha
fnvdhing ee, demoustatefurdamental problems that continued thong
much the subsequent work, We have joined oukers (e.g. Nebon ant
Hlusnngs 1283; Ingram aud Dawson, 2005) in skowing tha: technical
challengesand incunsten definions,comparunded by somtimes iso
‘Gent dacy mentation of meade, leave vonscerable wneestanes arom
fertam sspees of ar plsto and satelite-basod anases. Clearly, widow
‘Sonny tt native foress in general ane shaking, nace ramon about
nds of forest area nd lose ie warmed Han is generally aecended.
Here we tn fo the question of on ens of Forest cover change have
‘icon shaped hy the receved stom of the "slandaride Zoret. We focus
in particular on he persistent veprduccon al the notion that 80 percent
tthe islana’s Foveas have been les, and ask o Waa degree its peslstente
thay he atibutable tots usefulesineamplasiving cramatiedeforesan,
‘The 90 percent claim aricedizecly out ofthe slo forest Iyparhes>
Aeseloped by Perrier dea Bithie sn Homber.(hurney 1987; Kl 2000)
‘Scee fall Perrier de athe (1921 sated tra th sland ws once come
pletely covered by an ‘arborescent vegetacon, sox! tat nearly ete
Neer ee ey ssw tn aeancimers Ci aietiens colt

Deiesoton in Madagascar 85

vor The sate ppt usher eoutned ty ty Serene
that the iseud is shore 10 percent forested, hut only if on fallaciously
_gssuites tte rest was previously Cully forested. 7

tateral of emronmentl agesies and slmply to describe she earn
iis tempersel or motif, with °O0 perces’ replaced ty “i percents
Bithie and Humbe, - a
‘yegetaion caver are inched. Islandavide studies using stelle innages
‘wt sre th Hal nthe foxes enser may have heen eomvered We ether

constructing the clan's rin ed vedi
Dronsasingthe eins gad odeon nh sie

We cnn sas oars neo
thou: 80 o. 90 percent loss of Forest or af 7 iy
Tis tn in rearayprseat he eater doy ees
we pecuin sume rapier making suet laims (Tables 4.8 and 4.4),