Deforestation and fragmentation of Chaco dry forest in NW Argentina (1972–2007)

摘要: Abstract The sustained increase in the global food demand has favoured recent expansion of industrial agriculture into neotropical dry forest ecosystems, with resulting changes their extent and spatial configuration. Based on Landsat satellite images, we analyzed cover landscape configuration over an area 600 by 100 km located NW Argentina (Tucuman Salta provinces) four periods between 1972 2007. study area, one most active deforestation frontiers South American forest, was divided six relatively homogeneous sectors terms land property structure biophysical characteristics. During period 1.4 millions hectares were cleared. Deforestation started 1970s as a result technological increasing rainfall; continued (with temporal fluctuations) during 1980s 1990s association to soybean, accelerated (to ca. 100,000 ha year −1 ) 2001 2007 following commodity prices, national peso devaluation. We described using eight indices, summarized synthesis value: Euclidian distance across seven dimensions from theoretical non-fragmented situation. In areas soil limitations resulted stable, highly fragmented landscapes. contrast, sites regional coarser-scale (rainfall), produced less where concentrates high rainfall. Sites no for tend largely deforested few small poorly connected patches. properties size seems influence some indices fragmentation, but synthetic index fragmentation suggests overall convergence patterns towards similar different tenure conditions.