Tropical deforestation is considered the second largest source of anthropogenic
greenhouse gas emissions (IPCC, 2007) and is expected to remain a major emission
source for the foreseeable future (MEA, 2005). Despite policy efforts on reducing
deforestation, around 13 million hectares of forests continue to be lost every year (FAO,
2006). The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from tropical deforestation is now
recognised as an essential component of international efforts to mitigate climate change.
Soares-Filho et al. (2006), for example, suggest that protecting around 130 million
hectares of land from deforestation in the Amazon could reduce global carbon emissions
by 17 giga tonnes over the next 50 years. However, accurate assessment of the
magnitudes of potential emissions reductions is still hindered by large uncertainties in
quantifying contemporary emissions from deforestation.