Authors

Source

Type

Peer Review

Audience

Pages

Journal Number

Notes

Summary:
This paper analyzes the impact of national development policy on land cover change
and associated carbon fluxes at a Peruvian Amazon frontier. Remote sensing and field transects
reveal changes in forest carbon stocks and accumulation rates. Deforestation was most rapid along
the Interoceanic Highway during 1986–91 when credit and guaranteed markets were available,
resulting in emissions of 708,000 MgCyr
1, of which 14% was offset by secondary regrowth.
Despite continued population growth, deforestation slowed during 1991–97 when fiscal austerity
measures were imposed, resulting in emissions of 389,000 MgCyr
1, of which 41% was offset by
regrowth. Strategies to conserve frontier forests are compared in terms of carbon, biodiversity and
economic costs and benefits.