Monitoring intra and inter annual dynamics of forest degradation from charcoal production in Southern Africa with Sentinel - 2 imagery

Fernando Sedano, Sá Lisboa, Laura Duncanson, Natasha Ribeiro, Almeida Sitoe, Ritvik Sahajpal, George C. Hurtt, Compton J. Tucker

Abstract: Highlights•Forest degradation extent in the study area covered 7137 ha between 2016 and 2018.•Charcoal production degrades 6.5 ha of mopane woodlands daily.•The forest degradation front advanced 10.5 km in a 4-year period.•Charcoal production is the main cause of forest carbon stocks changes in the study area.•Sentinel 2 enables operational monitoring of charcoal production by forest degradation.