Variation of deforestation in the Ucayali region, Peru, from 2014 to 2024 using satellite imagery
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.57188/manglar.2025.032Keywords:
Deforestation, Forest, Remote sensing, Supervised models.Abstract
Ucayali is one of the regions of Peru with the greatest loss of forest cover in recent years, seriously affecting the ecosystem. This study determined the variation in deforestation in the province of Atalaya between 2014 and 2024 through supervised classification of satellite images. Six categories were established: I) rural zone, II) forest, III) water bodies, IV) pastures and crops, V) bare soil, and VI) deforestation. The classified raster was used to calculate the areas and their annual rates of change. The forest area decreased by 7.1% (5,148 ha), with an average rate of -0.9%/year. In contrast, there was an increase in deforested areas (5.3%, 3,895 ha, 4.7%/year), rural areas (1.1%, 779 ha, 21.9%/year), pastures and crops (0.4%, 303 ha, 2.5%/year) and water bodies (0.4%, 279 ha, 1.6%/year). Bare soil decreased by -0.2% (108 ha, -1.3%/year). The results show that forest loss is mainly associated with logging, fires, and illegal activities, while agriculture, livestock, and urban expansion had a lesser impact. In ten years, deforestation significantly altered the landscape, with a pattern of advancement towards areas near rivers and rural areas. This study confirms the usefulness of remote sensing and supervised classification for monitoring the dynamics of Amazonian deforestation, providing scientific and practical evidence that can guide land management and environmental policy formulation in the Ucayali region and other Amazonian areas.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Juan A. M. Choy , Franco A. Felix, Renzo S. Huerta, Carlos J. Mestanza
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