Collaborative Research: Territorializing Exploitation Space and the Fragmentation of the Amazon Forest

尽管在理解热带森林砍伐的原因和后果方面取得了相当大的进展，但人们对它如何在亚马逊地区的不同景观中表现出来的了解较少。近年来，景观生态学的研究为森林破碎和丧失的生态后果提供了更多的洞察力。该项目试图通过阐明森林砍伐的人类层面，研究产生森林碎片化的社会和行为过程来补充这一生态学知识。它将通过解决阿马佐尼亚与伐木者修建的道路相关的碎片化问题来做到这一点。具体地说，该项目将通过研究伐木道路的网络形成过程来发展关于森林碎片化的理论。为了实现这一目标，它将开发、实施和测试生成道路网络的空间模型。该项目寻求将建模工作建立在有关人类驾驶员的经验信息基础上，因此将获得调查数据，以具体说明模型假设、参数值和约束条件。项目实地调查是必要的，因为关于伐木者的空间决策仍有许多未知之处。该项目感兴趣的是，作为地方权力关系的函数，多个伐木者划分其“剥削”域的方式。先前的研究表明，这可能是解释和潜在预测森林破碎化模式的一个关键空间因素。该项目除了对基础科学的贡献外，还具有重大的社会价值。鉴于亚马逊和其他热带森林正在遭到破坏，未来保护它们的呼声将会增加。热带地区的土地使用政策必然会解决伐木在那里的作用，因此了解伐木者的行为至关重要。显然，硬木是一种宝贵的亚马逊资源，这就更有理由对它们进行可持续的砍伐，并将相关的环境影响保持在最低限度。要做到这一点，政策必须建立在更好地了解伐木者如何影响森林的基础上。该项目将在这方面提供新的基本信息，这对于制定有效的环境政策和维持热带森林的长期完整性至关重要。

Despite considerable advances in understanding the causes and consequences of tropical deforestation, less is known about how it manifests itself spatially across landscapes in the Amazon. Recently the study of landscape ecology has provided much insight into the ecological consequences of forest fragmentation and loss. The project seeks to complement this ecological knowledge by illuminating the human dimensions of deforestation, examining the social and behavioral processes that generate forest fragmentation. It will do so by addressing fragmentation in Amazônia associated with roads built by loggers. Specifically, the project will develop theory about forest fragmentation by examining the network formation processes of logging roads. To accomplish this, it will develop, implement, and test spatial models that generate road networks. The project seeks to base modeling efforts on empirical information about the human drivers involved, and will therefore obtain survey data to specify model assumptions, parameters values, and constraints. Project fieldwork is needed because much remains unknown about the spatial decision-making of loggers. Of interest to the project is the manner in which multiple loggers territorialize their "exploitation" domains, as a function of local power relations. Prior research suggests that this could be a key spatial factor in explaining and potentially predicting patterns of forest fragmentation.The project possesses significant societal value beyond its contribution to basic science. Given ongoing destruction of Amazonian and other tropical forests, calls for their conservation will increase in the future. Land use policy for tropical regions will necessarily address the role of logging there, so understanding the behavior of loggers is crucial. Clearly, hardwoods represent a valuable Amazonian resource, which is all the more reason that they be logged sustainably, and that associated environmental impacts be kept to a minimum. To do this, policy must be based on a better understanding of how loggers impact the forest. The project will provide new and basic information in this regard, essential to the formulation of effective environmental policy, and to maintaining the long-term integrity of tropical forests.