Title: A Model of Tropical Rain Forest Depletion in Brunei Darussalam

Authors: Kazimierz Becek, Shin-ichi Yamamoto

Abstract:

Forest depletion can result from a variety of factors, all of which can destabilise the normal
functioning of the forest ecosystem. These factors that adversely affect the forest
ecosystem include both anthropogenic phenomena, such as slash and burn practices and air
or water pollution, or natural phenomena, such as forest fire. Forest depletion is offset by
forest regrowth. However, if the depleting factors are strong enough, then the forest’s
natural resilience may be insufficient to keep the forest ecosystem in balance.

One of the most recognisable signs of forest depletion is gaps in the forest cover. These gaps
may be as small as the crown of a single tree or as large as an entire forest plot. In this
paper, a model of gaps in the forest cover is developed. The necessery data on the size of
the gaps were attained from a spectral analysis of the optical density of 1:20,000 grey-scale
aerial photography. These results were verified by photointerpreting the same images.

It was found that the probability density function of the gap size follows the power-law
probability distribution function. The area that was examined in this model was the Badas
peat swamp forest, which is located in Brunei Darussalam. In the second experiment, we
estimated a depletion level for around 1000 forest plots in Brunei Darussalam. This was
done using a method known as the biomass impenetrability method. A key data set that the
method uses is an InSAR digital surface model of the forest canopy.

Resulting histograms of the forest plots’ depletion level also indicate concurrence with the
power-law distribution but with significantly different parameters. This phenomenon may
be interpreted as a consequence of logging activities. Results of the study may be used to
develop a method for a significantly more sensitive assessment of forest resources, which
will be able to record forest areas that are not only entirely logged out, but also those that
are only partially damaged.