Abstract
Due to the characteristics of the Amazon region, conducting regular and frequent
on-site surveys in all licensed forest management areas (known as Sustainable
Forest Management Plans - PMFS) proves to be an almost impossible task,
notably for its costs, time and the resources required. Therefore, the present
investigation aimed to: (i) analyze whether and how the use of modern
geointelligence technologies and analysis of data contained in the Forest Products
Trading Control System (SisDOF) and other official sources can enable us to know
the real situation of logging areas authorized by the government; and (ii) verify if
the PMFS located in the Southern Amazonas Mesoregion are being executed in
accordance with the respective environmental standards. For each type of data
(spatial or non-spatial), appropriate analysis methods were used, which resulted
in the establishment of 22 evaluation criteria, initially applied to a “standard” PMFS
and subsequently replicated for a total of 83 PMFS located in the Southern
Amazonas Mesoregion. The results obtained are valuable and encouraging. The
combined analysis of spatial information and data (satellite imagery, vector data
of authorized polygons as also rivers, protected areas etc.) and non-spatial
(SisDOF and other official database sources) allowed a better understanding and
assessment of the context of each PMFS, especially as evidence of simulated
commercial and/or transportation transactions in SisDOF to legalize forest
products extracted illegally from other areas. During the investigation, it has also
been found that the mathematical model known as Benford’s Law, which has long
been used for the detection of economic and financial frauds, may be useful for
detecting possible frauds related to forest inventories.
on-site surveys in all licensed forest management areas (known as Sustainable
Forest Management Plans - PMFS) proves to be an almost impossible task,
notably for its costs, time and the resources required. Therefore, the present
investigation aimed to: (i) analyze whether and how the use of modern
geointelligence technologies and analysis of data contained in the Forest Products
Trading Control System (SisDOF) and other official sources can enable us to know
the real situation of logging areas authorized by the government; and (ii) verify if
the PMFS located in the Southern Amazonas Mesoregion are being executed in
accordance with the respective environmental standards. For each type of data
(spatial or non-spatial), appropriate analysis methods were used, which resulted
in the establishment of 22 evaluation criteria, initially applied to a “standard” PMFS
and subsequently replicated for a total of 83 PMFS located in the Southern
Amazonas Mesoregion. The results obtained are valuable and encouraging. The
combined analysis of spatial information and data (satellite imagery, vector data
of authorized polygons as also rivers, protected areas etc.) and non-spatial
(SisDOF and other official database sources) allowed a better understanding and
assessment of the context of each PMFS, especially as evidence of simulated
commercial and/or transportation transactions in SisDOF to legalize forest
products extracted illegally from other areas. During the investigation, it has also
been found that the mathematical model known as Benford’s Law, which has long
been used for the detection of economic and financial frauds, may be useful for
detecting possible frauds related to forest inventories.
| Translated title of the contribution | Geographical information, sustainability and Amazonia: geointelligence applied to the evaluation of sustainable forest management areas in the south of amazonas |
|---|---|
| Original language | Portuguese |
| Qualification | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisors/Advisors |
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| Award date | 1 Mar 2021 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2021 |