High-latitude forest cover loss in Northern Eurasia, 2000-2005

Timely updates of large area forest cover and change facilitate studies of biogeochemical cycling and climate modeling, forest management, and ecological integrity. Our method employed an internally consistent and efficient probability-based sampling approach that integrates low and high spatial resolution satellite data sets for high-latitude gross forest cover loss estimation in Northern Eurasia. Area of forest cover loss from 2000 to 2005 within the high-latitude forest zone is estimated to be 6.6 Mha (standard error ±2.1 Mha). Estimated forest cover loss represents a 2.8% reduction in year 2000 forest area. East Siberia is shown to have the largest total forest loss area of the Northern Eurasia regions. Of the total forest cover loss area, 51.7% was attributed to wildfires. Inter-annual forest cover loss trend shows significant increases of forest loss due to wildfires for years 2002 and 2003 in East Siberia, with a subsequent decrease in forest loss. Estimated gross forest cover loss within Northern Eurasia boreal forests exceeded the humid tropics on a percentage basis for the study period and brings into question the sustainability of high-latitude forests, given the long times required to re-establish forest cover.