Assessment of Human Pressure on the Amapa State Forest, Amapa, Brazil from 1999 to 2023

The Amapa State Forest (Flota do Amapa) is a Sustainable Use Conservation Unit, which faces persistent human pressure. The objective of this study was to detect and quantify the vectors of human impact—specifically deforestation and hotspots on Flota do Amapa from 1999 to 2023, assessing the areas experiencing the greatest pressure. To achieve this, we utilized hot spot data from National Institute for Space Research- INPE’s BDQueimadas database (2014-2023) and deforestation mapping provided by State Secretariat for the Environment- for the Environment of the Amapa- SEMA-AP (1999-2023). Spatial analyses involved overlaying hot spot and deforestation layers with the zoning data of Flota do Amapa. Results indicated that Flota do Amapa has lost approximately 2% of its original forest cover, with a peak in hot spots recorded in 2015 and a marked increase in deforestation between 2007 and 2015- several years after its establishment, being the population, temporary, and primitive one sunder the greatest pressure. Remote monitoring of human pressure is essential for the management and mitigation of environmental impacts on Flota do Amapa.