Multitemporal Analysis of the Dynamics of Forest Cover Conversion in The Jequitibá Forest Settlement Project in Rondônia

Abstract

Colonization projects played a central role in changing the landscapes in Rondônia, primarily due to the intense  deforestation process. The aim of this study is to analyze, through images, the process of forest cover conversion in the PAF Jequitibá area in Rondônia from 2013 to 2022, elucidating the region’s occupation dynamics and the current state of vegetation in the settlement. The data revealed alterations in over half of the PAF’s forest cover area. Specifically, 52.97% (70,621.00 hectares) were affected by selective logging, and 61.04% (81,384.87 hectares) of the forest cover was cleared through clear-cutting. The observed occupation dynamics in the area are clearly based on unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, leading to the conversion of the forest into areas for agropastoral activities. The study highlighted the failure of the government’s attempt to implement a settlement model based on the sustainable use of natural resources.