Indirect mapping of forest degradation is based on the elimination of intact areas, rather than direct mapping of degraded forests (GOFC-GOLD 2013). One such approach, applied globally using Landsat data, is the Intact Forest Landscape (IFL) product (Potapov et al 2008). Hinterland forest product presented here is an intermediate layer which complements the IFL concept through the implementation of a defined disturbance interval, in this case the twelve year forest loss record of Hansen et al. (2013). Hinterland forests are defined as forest patches absent of and removed from disturbance in near-term history. Forest is defined here as tree cover taller than 5m with canopy cover >=25% according to the product of Hansen et al. (2013). Criteria for the differentiation of hinterland forests are: a) distance from recent stand-replacement disturbance (>1 km); b) minimum forest patch size (100km2); c) connectivity of hinterland forest parches (minimum corridor width: 2 km); d) interval of extant forest (12 years). Hinterland forests are thematically different from the IFL which include both forests and non-forest ecosystems (Potapov et al 2008). |
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