Direct Measurement of Forest Degradation Rates in Malawi: Toward a National Forest Monitoring System to Support REDD+
Article Direct Measurement of Forest Degradation Rates in Malawi: Toward a National Forest Monitoring System to Support REDD+ David L. Skole 1,* , Jay H. Samek 1, Cheikh Mbow 1,2, Michael Chirwa 1,3, Dan Ndalowa 1,4, Tangu Tumeo 5, Daud Kachamba 6, Judith Kamoto 6 , Alfred Chioza 6 and Francis Kamangadazi 4 1 Global Observatory for Ecosystem Services, Department of Forestry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA; samekjay@msu.edu (J.H.S.); c.mbow@up.ac.za (C.M.); chirwamike@gmail.com (M.C.); nchidani@gmail.com (D.N.) 2 Future Africa Institute, University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa 3 Forest Research Institute of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi 4 Malawi College of Forestry and Wildlife, Dedza, Malawi; fkamangadazi@gmail.com 5 Department of Forestry, Ministry of Forests and Natural Resources, Lilongwe, Malawi; tumeo.tangu@gmail.com 6 Forestry Department, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe, Malawi; dkachamba@gmail.com (D.K.); judithkamoto@gmail.com (J.K.); dralfredchioza@gmail.com (A.C.) * Correspondence: skole@msu.edu; Tel.: +1-517-230-1212 Abstract: Spatial time-series measurements of forest degradation rates are important for estimating national greenhouse gas emissions but have been challenging for open forests and woodlands. This Citation: Skole, D.L.; Samek, J.H.; lack of quantitative data on forest degradation rates, location and biomass is an important constraint Mbow, C.; Chirwa, M.; Ndalowa, D.; to developing national REDD+ policy. In Malawi, and in most countries in Africa, most assessments Tumeo, T.; Kachamba, D.; Kamoto, J.; of forest cover change for carbon emissions monitoring tend to report only deforestation in the public Chioza, A.; Kamangadazi, F.
[Show full text]