Are State-of-the-Art LULC Maps Able to Track Ecological Restoration Efforts in Brazilian Atlantic Forest?

The Atlantic Forest (AF), an endangered biodiversity hotspot, requires vigilant monitoring of recent ecological restoration efforts. Taking advantage of Land Use Land Cover maps' capability to track changes in landscapes, this study investigates their potential in monitoring restoration sites in the AF. We used a large-scale dataset (6,796 polygons – totalling 164 km
²
) encompassing restoration polygons to validate the secondary forest maps of two internationally recognized LULC maps - MAPBIOMAS and JRC Tropical Moist Forest - in ecological restoration sites. Results reveal both maps usually failed in classifying restoration sites as forested lands. Additionally, mapping methodology and sensor spatial resolution limitations excluded half of the dataset’s polygons, highlighting vulnerabilities of small-scale projects reliant on Landsat-like data. Addressing these challenges necessitates enhanced monitoring methods, involving the integration of higher-resolution data and the adoption of active remote sensing. These measures are crucial for advancing the precision of ecological restoration monitoring in tropical forests.