Abstract
Tropical forest successional stages have been mapped previously with multi‐temporal satellite sensor imagery. The precise identification and classification of such stages, however, has proved difficult. This Letter presents a new method for the classification of forest successional stages following deforestation in Brazilian Amazonia. Multi‐temporal Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and derived fraction images and field data were used in a semi‐automatic classification approach. The results were encouraging and signal the application of the method for the entire Brazilian Amazonia.
Acknowledgments
The project was funded by Fundo Bunka de Pesquisa—Sumito Mitsui Bank—2002 and FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) grant 2002/00985‐2. INPE (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais) supplied Landsat images and LBA (Large Scale Biosphere–Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia)—LC‐06 Project personnel assisted in the field campaign. CAPES (Fundação Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) awarded studentship to the first author.