Authors:
Endress, B.A. and J.D. Chinea
Publication Date:
2001
Abstract/Summary:
A GIS (geographic information systems) database was constructed from aerial photographs, a vegetation map, and topographic map data of the Ngeremeduu Bay Drainage Area (NBDA), Palau, to examine relationships between upland land cover dynamics, environmental variables, and past land use. Our results indicate that areas of forest expansion were significantly (P < 0.001) associated with the location of abandoned agricultural communities. In addition, over 92 percent of areas of forest expansion occurred within 100 m of established forest. These results suggest that the proximity of established forest facilitate forest recovery following human disturbance.
Resource Type:
Peer-reviewed Article
Source:
Biotropica
Link:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1744-7429.2001.tb00214.x/abstract