MODELING LANDSCAPE PERMEABILITY USING FOREST PATCHES AND ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES

This study examines the impact of the risk of illegal logging on landscape permeability in a region where 8,060 km? of the total area is covered by forests. According to official data, 29% of this forested area is located in zones at risk of illegal logging. Given that forests play a crucial role in maintaining landscape permeability and ecological connectivity, the study employs the CSI index, which integrates the risk of illegal logging, to assess how these activities affect the ecological integrity and functionality of the landscape. We modelled landscape permeability in two scenarios. In the first scenario, we considered the current situation on the ground. In the second scenario, we took into account the risk of illegal logging presented by the forests in the study area. The results indicate that the risk associated with illegal logging in forested areas generates a negative impact on landscape permeability, reflected in an 11.74% reduction in areas classified as SACA 1. These findings will provide insight into the influence of the risk of illegal logging on landscape permeability and will support the development of more effective conservation strategies.