Rising rates of deforestation and degradation in tropical forests have underlined the need for information on the spatial distribution of ecosystem properties, including biodiversity and carbon stocks, that might assist managers when setting aside zones for protection. Forest plots can provide information on both biodiversity and carbon stocks and are thus an important tool to enhance our ability to maximize biodiversity conservation and to quantify potential carbon emissions that result from deforestation and degradation (REDD).

Our laboratory manages two networks of 0.5-ha plots in French Guiana and the Amazon basin.

Our plots are modified Gentry plots that cover 0.5-ha for larger trees to estimate AGB and 0.1-ha for smaller plants to estimate floristics.

The adjacent map can be used to view locations of our plots across the three regions
(click on the map for zoomed images and details of French Guiana, northwestern Peru and southwestern Brazil/MAP).

The green background indicates humid tropical forest cover of AVHRR GFCC.