Mapping forest successional stages following deforestation in Brazilian Amazonia using multi‐temporal Landsat images

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.