Forest gains and losses in Southeast Asia over 27 years: The slow convergence towards reforestation

Forest cover has decreased dramatically in Southeast Asia over the last decades. Understanding the drivers behind these changes is critical to predict changes and minimise their adverse effects. The objectives of the present study were to provide accurate estimates of forest gains and losses in each country of Southeast Asia, and to test the hypothesis that changes in forest cover are linked to national socioeconomic changes. Temporal changes in forest cover were quantified in eleven countries using mid-resolution land cover data. Decline in forest cover between 1992 and 2018 varied considerably among countries with evidence of reforestation in some countries during the last few years. Some countries showed a positive relationship between GDP and forest cover changes while others showed a negative relationship. Some countries were synchronised, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia where forest conversion predominantly involved agricultural lands. A contrast among these countries was also shown by examining the lands converted from and to forests. The present study supports the hypothesis that changes in forest cover is, at least in part, driven by socioeconimic changes and suggests that future changes in forest cover in Southeast Asia will be determined by countries with important agroforestry sectors.