Vegetation Dynamics Evaluation in the Amazon Rainforest Deforested Areas

ABSTRACT This article uses data from orbital platforms (MOD44B, 3B43 and SRTM) to evaluate the vegetation dynamics of tropical forests in deforested areas between 2000 and 2010. We analyzed, temporally and spatially, the occurrence of vegetation regeneration in deforested areas mapped by the PRODES system (Programa de Cálculo do Desflorestamento da Amazônia) of the INPE (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais). The results revealed regeneration in deforested areas and also showed that vegetation density tends to increase over time. Areas of regeneration are mainly found in low land areas following the path of deforestation. MOD44B was effective in the vegetation temporal and spatial study, and indicated occurrence of regeneration over time. The higher precipitation period overlapped with the period in which lower density pixels migrated to classes of higher density, which suggests a possible relationship between precipitation indexes and vegetation growth.