Validity of Self-Reports to Measure Deforestation: Evidence from the Bolivian Lowlands
Dados Bibliográficos
| AUTOR(ES) | |
|---|---|
| AFILIAÇÃO(ÕES) | Northwestern University, Brandeis University, New York Zoological Society, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, University of Florida, Beni, Bolivia |
| ANO | 2003 |
| TIPO | Artigo |
| PERIÓDICO | Field Methods |
| ISSN | 1525-822X |
| E-ISSN | 1552-3969 |
| EDITORA | Annual Reviews (United States) |
| DOI | 10.1177/1525822x03254847 |
| CITAÇÕES | 5 |
| ADICIONADO EM | 2025-08-18 |
| MD5 |
a3c0236d13d72f17fd057032e3da3949
|
Resumo
To assess rates of deforestation, researchers typically use questionnaires. But do questionnaires provide accurate information about the extent of forest clearance by households? In this article, the authors provide data on the amount of deforestation in a Tsimane' Amerindian village (Bolivia) and assess informant error by cross-checking three different assessments: (1) a direct physical measure by a research team of each plot cleared from the forest, (2)an estimate by the household head of the entire area cleared by his household during the year before the interview, and (3)an estimate by the plot owners of the area cleared of each plot he owns. Results show a high correlation between direct measures and estimates of areas provided by informants; plot owners provided more accurate information than heads of households. Results suggest that asking Amerindians about the area of forest cleared will yield reliable estimates of deforestation.